Tigers Class of the MLB?

06/27/2025

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

Who would you have thought would have been the first club to win 50 games this year in Major League Baseball? The reigning champion LA Dodgers, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, and the San Diego Padres are some popular picks. However, as it stands, the team that won the race to 50 and currently sits atop the league is the surprise of the 2024 postseason: the Detroit Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers currently hold MLB's best record at 51-25, including a lead of at least four games over any other American League team (AL). Detroit, coming off a surprise 86-win season that saw them make it to Game 5 of the ALDS has built off this momentum. Now this young club built around an elite pitching staff and solid core of young hitters looks like a serious World Series contender.

The Tigers' strong pitching has continued to be the backbone of their club, carrying over their success from last season. Detroit currently owns the 6th best ERA in the majors at 3.46, this includes their starters pitching to 3.36 ERA (3rd best in MLB). They have issued the 11th fewest walks in the majors and allowed the 8th fewest home runs – which is impressive for a young staff. The star of the staff is the current AL Cy Young Favorite Tarik Skubal who once again looks like the best pitcher in baseball. He tied for 1st in wins (9 wins), 7th in ERA (2.29), 2nd in strikeouts (125), and is 1st in WHIP (0.87) as he has continued his dominance from last season. Fellow starters Jack Flaherty (100 K's & 1.23 WHIP) and Casey Mize (7 wins & 2.88 ERA) have helped form a strong top 3 for the Tigers rotation. They also have a very versatile and reliable bullpen that features five relievers with 3.69 or better ERA's. The Tigers got a lot of experience last season for their young arms, and they have now parlayed that into their greatest strength in 2025 thus far.

Offensively the Tigers are far more potent than they were last season, thanks in large part to breakout performances from young players and the resurgence of a big-money free agent. This season the Tigers rank 4th in the Majors in runs scored with 410, on an improved pace due to surpass their 682 runs scored last season (19th in MLB). They’re also tied for 2nd in triples with 17 and 9th in home runs at 100. As a club, their .254 team batting average is 20 points better than where they finished last season. Once again Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter are spearheading the Tigers' attack. The pair have combined to hit 31 home runs and drive in 90 runs. They're two major standouts though that have surprised many with their breakouts. First baseman Spencer Torkelson is second on Detroit in Home Runs and RBIs with 17 and 50, respectively. Rookie catcher Dillon Dingler has been a revelation posting a .269 batting average with 8 home runs through his first 53 big-league games. They've also gotten a resurgent season from Javier Baez (.289 BA, 9 HR, 36 RBIs) after struggling much of last season in the first year of a huge free-agent deal. Plus, they've seen 9 different players hit at least 4 home runs and 9 different players score at least 24 runs. The depth and confidence this Tigers lineup is now operating with has allowed them to make a huge leap into being a top 5 offense.

Now, as we conclude June Detroit looks every bit of the part of a World Series Contender. Can this still young squad maintain this elite play for another deep postseason run? Only time will tell, but it for sure has been a tremendous start on the diamond for the club representing the Motor City.