EAST LANSING- There is something special brewing in the Motor City. The Detroit Tigers are currently 0.5 games back from the Wild Card, hunting for their first playoff appearance since 2014.
What is happening right now? This feels surreal. I have to ask myself, “How do they keep winning?” But they do. They find ways. They don’t quit.
If you had told me back in July, that the Tigers were even in the talk of playoff contention, I would have laughed.
But there is no denying that this is an entirely new team with an entirely new attitude.
Now, let’s look into some of the legit reasons why the Tigers are playing so well.
1. Javy Báez is no longer in the lineup
Javier Báez was placed on the IL due to hip surgery in late August, and he will be out for the rest of the season.
Since Báez left, this Detroit offense has been on fire. With additional roster moves of calling up Trey Sweeney and Jace Jung, there has been a major dynamic shift in this Tigers team.
It does help when you don’t have Báez taking up a spot in the lineup, averaging .184 and continuing to swing at every breaking ball and slider that comes his way.
It could be coincidental that the Tigers are playing so well without him, or it could just be a break from the Javy Báez curse.
2. Kerry Carpenter’s return
Kerry Carpenter’s return from injury has been a joy to watch. Since his comeback in mid August, Carpenter has a 910 OPS with seven HRs in 29 games.
His bat was definitely something this Detroit offense was missing and having him back simply helps the Tigers score runs.
In 44 wins, Carpenter is hitting .351 with a 1.108 OPS. These are MVP level statistics similar to those of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, all while in a much smaller sample size.
When Carpenter hits, the Tigers win.
3. Tarik Skubal and pitching staff
Of course, having the AL Cy Young favorite on your team can’t hurt.
Many fans questioned the decision to keep Skubal at the trade deadline, but that does not change the fact that Skubal is 17-4 when he’s on the bump.
With an ERA of 2.48 and 221 strikeouts, his case for the AL Cy Young is looking pretty good.
Keider Montero threw a complete game shut out last week against the Rockies and seems to be finding his groove.
Despite trading away Jack Flaherty and losing Reese Olson and Casey Mize to injuries, the Tigers bullpen has proven to be a well-oiled machine, thanks to pitching coach Chris Fetter.
Fetter has taken names like Brant Hurter and Beau Brieske and turned them into efficient weapons.
Olson and Mize are returning just in time for the action, to a team that is third in the MLB in ERA, ahead of contenders like the Astros, Phillies, and Yankees.
4. So, what’s next?
The Tigers just swept the Royals last night. They play their next series against the Orioles, who they just had a series win against last weekend.
After Baltimore, the Tigers will play the Rays and White Sox. Two teams who are very beatable.
The Tigers are 0.5 games behind the Twins in the race for the Wild Card. The Twins still have to play the Red Sox, Marlins, and Orioles.
Kansas City, who is +1.5 in the Wild Card race, will move on to play the Giants, Nationals, and Braves.
Seattle and Boston are not yet out of the running, currently sitting at three and fourgames back from the Wild Card but playing catchup won’t be easy.
I don’t know where my expectations stand with this Tigers team, but I do know that they are hungry for a postseason appearance.
If they continue to play the way they have been playing, I have no doubt that they will disrupt this postseason picture.
