The Detroit Tigers are the top team in the American League and have a strong roster looking to contend for a postseason spot. With one of the best starting pitchers in baseball in Tarik Skubal, the Tigers will always have a chance to win a postseason series.
Fortunately, the rest of the roster is strong and has the makings of a potential World Series contender. For MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Tigers aren’t just contenders; he views them as being just one piece away from the top contender.
“The Tigers have the best pitcher on the planet in Tarik Skubal,” Nightengale writes, “who’s favored to win his second consecutive Cy Young award. They had six All-Stars. This is a young, talented team that perhaps needs only a swing-and-miss closer to bring Detroit its first World Series title since 1984.”
These comments from Nightengale were prompted by a question of whether baseball will see a new World Series champion than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Detroit, with its young and talented roster, has the potential to supplant the Dodgers in Nightengale’s mind.
Skubal is dominant (2.23 ERA), while Casey Mize (3.15 ERA), Reese Olson (2.71 ERA), and Jack Flaherty (4.65 ERA) make up a solid rotation. While there’s still room to improve, it’s good enough to get the Tigers through a tough postseason series.
The big issue for the Tigers is in the bullpen. Tommy Kahnle has struggled lately, allowing nine earned runs over three outings totaling just one inning pitched. His ERA ballooned from the mid-2.00 range to 4.85.
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Will Vest has been solid, with a 2.30 ERA through 40 appearances, but the Tigers could still use another closer on the roster. If they did bring in an elite strikeout closer, like Aroldis Chapman, then in Nightengale’s view, the team would be the top World Series contender to win the title over the Dodgers.
With the Boston Red Sox getting hot lately, Chapman might not be available. There are other options, but Chapman would be the best fit for the Tigers. With their top relievers all being righties, the lefty Chapman would be a perfect complement.
If Detroit can land a swing-and-miss closer, the team would be in much better shape and could look to be the top World Series contender in the American League, and potentially in all of baseball.
This season has been incredible already for Detroit, but if Nightengale’s belief comes true, then the Tigers’ 2025 season could go down as one of the most legendary in Detroit sports history.
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