MLB Notebook: Detroit Tigers Preview

The Detroit Tigers snapped a long drought last year. With a strong two-month push to get into the playoffs and then advance to the Division Series, the Tigers posted their first winning season since 2016 and their first playoff trip since 2014. Was that surge a sign of things to come or a blip on the radar?

Let’s evaluate the 2025 Detroit Tigers:

HITTING FOR POWER

Riley Greene hit 24 homers in a breakout season last year. Kerry Carpenter has been gradually improving in his power each of the last two seasons. These are the bright spots in an area of the team that saw regression in other key places.

The most notable disappointment was designated hitter Spencer Torkelson. After a 31-homer campaign in 2023, Torkelson struggled badly a year ago. Jake Rogers hit 21 bombs in ’23, but the catcher fell off the pace last season.

Detroit went out and got Gleyber Torres from the Yankees to play second base. Torres has been up and down with his power and ended on a three-year average of 21 homers per season. That said, hitting the ball out of Yankee Stadium and hitting it out of Comerica Park are two very different things. We need only ask Javier Baez, who has never replicated his Cub production (or even come close) since becoming a Tiger in 2022.

The vast expanse of Comerica makes it difficult for Detroit to produce flashy power numbers. Perhaps Colt Keith could improve on his 13 homers as a rookie. Whatever the source, Greene and Carpenter need to continue their growth, and they need at least a little bit of help.

GETTING ON BASE

Greene and Carpenter are again the best players here, with OBPs in the .330 to .340 range, and at a stage in their careers where it’s reasonable to expect improvement. That improvement needs to come, because there’s less support here than in the power department. Torres usually batted around .260 with an OBP of roughly .330 in New York. That would help. Otherwise, we’re looking for a surprise breakout from someone who has never previously been consistent at getting on base.

STARTING PITCHING

Comerica might be tough to hit in, but every coin has a flip side, and it’s a great place to pitch. We need only ask Tarik Skubal, who won the AL Cy Young Award last year and gives the Tigers a big-time ace. Skubal will be backed up by Jack Flaherty and Reese Olson. While Flaherty has had an erratic career, this should be a pretty good 2-3 combo in the rotation.

The bottom of the rotation is relying on Casey Mize and Alex Cobb to successfully complete comebacks from injuries. Mize returned last year after missing all off ’23 and posted a 4.49 ERA in his 20 starts. Detroit would really benefit from him settling into a good groove. Cobb only made three starts last year due to a hip injury. He’s finished with ERAs in the high 3s. If he’s healthy, the Comerica effect could bring that number down.

BULLPEN

Hinch will use Jason Foley, Tyler Holton, and Beau Brieske to close out games. The trio isn’t going to overwhelm anyone, but they’re good enough—particularly Holton who has put up ERAs in the low 2s. Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest are dependable arms. Hinch has a lot of options to mix and match with if his starters can get him to the sixth inning with a lead.

OUTLOOK

Detroit ended with 86 wins last year, and betting markets see modest regression this year, with an Over/Under win total of 83.5. That’s about where I’m at. I respect Hinch and the pitching looks good. But if Skubal slips even a little, or if none of the young hitters develop, it could be a long year. I think splitting the difference and saying over .500, but out of the playoffs is the best bet.