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Frankly, it’s shocking that the Tigers are even on this list.
However, manager A.J. Hinch’s squad is 32-23 since the All-Star Break, so there are a lot of positives to highlight that have gotten the Tigers back in the wild-card race.
– Riley Greene has 25 doubles, 23 home runs and an .840 OPS this season, along with 12 defensive runs saved in left field. He was an All-Star in 2024, and it will likely be the first of many Midsummer Classic appearances.
– Brant Hurter is a rookie left-hander who has been dominant across his first eight MLB starts, going 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA.
– Matt Vierling continues to be an interesting jack-of-all-trades piece, as he’s doubled 27 times this season while also seeing time at third base and all three outfield positions.
– Kerry Carpenter was sidelined by lumbar spine inflammation for more than two months, but Detroit’s DH has 15 home runs and 50 RBI in less than half a season this year. When he’s in the lineup, he is a difference-maker.
Trading Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline might mean Detroit doesn’t have enough starting pitching depth behind likely AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to make a deep playoff run.