The motto, “Be like the Royals”, calls for a rally toward the bottom of the standings for at least one MLB team that wants to finish the season with some momentum that it can carry into 2025. .
Perhaps the phrase could be changed to “roar like tigers”.
While the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins, out of the American League Central, have earned some respect for remaining in the wild-card chase until the end of the season, the Detroit Tigers are now one of the hottest teams in baseball on the cusp of the finale. An AL playoff spot.
As quickly as they got into the playoff race, the biggest surprise of 2024 has become a team no one wants to face once the postseason begins.
And to think, the Tigers were getting disdain less than two months ago Left-hander Tarik Skubal elected not to be traded For a package of prospects in the midst of another lost season.
When the trade deadline approached on July 30, Detroit was 52–57. The Motor City baseball team had some horsepower, but it was being wasted on shot suspension and worn out tires.
The Tigers were on a five-game losing streak at the time, which took them to 52–59. Less than two weeks later, they would go eight games under .500 at 55–63.
It made more sense to park it in the garage and cancel the insurance than to spend more fuel driving that muscle car around town.
But as Tigers broadcaster Jason Bennati said after lowering their magic number to two to clinch a playoff berth with a win Thursday: “A city that doesn’t care about the odds has a baseball team to contend with.” Is.”
While the Skubal rotation takes a turn, centerfielder Parker Meadows has been a revelation since returning to the major leagues after some brutal early season struggles. The Tigers are 32-12 in games played since returning from the injured list on August 3, playing their part in Detroit’s massive center field with offensive and defensive heroics.
The Tigers’ 673 runs ranked 19th in baseball as of Thursday’s game, and their 161 home runs ranked 24th. He compensated for this with a 3.60 ERA, which was second best in the American League and third best among all MLB teams.
In the bullpen, left-hander Sean Guenther has emerged, the 28-year-old had only 14 games of previous major league experience and none since 2021. 15 of his 16 appearances this season have come since August 22, when he pitched to a 0.48 ERA.
Detroit relievers have pitched an MLB-leading 675 2/3 innings, still fourth in baseball and second in the AL with a 3.56 bullpen ERA.
Top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe made his debut on Wednesday The saving grace is that with the scoreless innings, he will get time to contribute along with the players he will call teammates for what is expected to be a long major league career.
Riding a five-game winning streak, having won nine of their last 10, the Tigers are only hoping to build on even more momentum with three games to go against the hapless Chicago White Sox in the final weekend, and also at home. Not less.
As recently as three weeks ago, the Tigers were a .500 team. Now they are candidates for a deep October run in a season without a super team, looking to ride the wave that both the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks did when they made the World Series last season.
So while it’s surprising the Tigers have gotten themselves to this point, it shouldn’t shock anyone.
