The Detroit Tigers are having one of the best seasons in franchise history. Detroit boasts a roster full of All-Stars, Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal, and strong leadership from AJ Hinch, setting the team up for a deep October playoff run.
Although they are 9.5 games up on the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central and all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, the Tigers still have a lot to play for during the last month of the MLB season. They aspire to be the top seed in the AL and ensure that all other opponents would have to come through Comerica Park to try to take down the Tigers. Detroit sits at 80-58, which is one game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays for the top seed in the AL.
Tigers Predicted to Finish with the Top Seed in the AL
The Blue Jays are also playing great baseball, and the Tigers are the main threat that is in the way of Toronto getting that top seed.
In a Bleacher Report predictions piece, the Tigers‘ playoff blueprint is securing that No.1 seed in the American League:
While the Blue Jays would like to get the top seed in the AL postseason, the Tigers are currently the biggest obstacle to them doing so, despite going 11-14 in July. It’s all starts at the top for the Tigers, as ace Tarik Skubal is in poll position to win the AL Cy Young Award for the second season in a row, which would make him the first pitcher to do that since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball by just about any metric, but the rest of A.J. Hinch’s rotation needs to be better. Casey Mize has a 6.19 ERA in seven starts since making an All-Star appearance. Jack Flaherty’s 3.89 FIP suggests he’s been a bit unlucky, but the 4.87 ERA he’s posted this year has been disappointing.”
Aside from Tarik Skubal, the starting rotation can get a little dicey. As BR writer Tim Kelly mentioned, Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty have not been great, and aging Charlie Morton and Chris Paddack aren’t great options either.
Skubal has the opportunity to anchor a rotation for a lengthy playoff series if he can throw 2-3 times, but the other arms will have to provide some stability for Detroit down the stretch.
The Tigers’ Bullpen Outlook is Solid
Despite the shakiness of the Tigers‘ starting rotation, manager AJ Hinch does have some quality options in the bullpen that he can elect to use in the playoffs. Kyle Finnegan has not allowed a run since being traded from the Washington Nationals.
Will Vest anchors the ninth inning, while he and Finnegan stabilize the bullpen’s backend and will likely see heavy playoff action. Southpaw Tyler Holton has also served Hinch well, but roles get amplified in October. Even if the Tigers secure the best path to the World Series, it doesn’t guarantee a trip to the Fall Classic; they’ll need to earn it against the best teams in the AL.
Tigers Given Promising End of MLB Season Prediction