More often than not, a surprise team will seduce and then disappoint fans the next season, its breakout success something of a mirage.
Yet what the Detroit Tigers are building seems very, very real.
The Tigers aren’t just building upon their surprise playoff spot, wild-card upset and trip to the Division Series. No, that would be selling the best team in the American League a little too short. Detroit is off to a 22-13 start, best in the AL, and their plus-63 run differential is tops in the major leagues.
With that, they’ve zoomed to fourth in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, likely their highest position since a couple fellows named Max and Justin were pitching for them.
This prosperity is built on some compelling turnarounds: Former No. 1 overall picks Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson are playing up to their potential, with Mize – No. 1 overall in 2018 – posting a 2.70 ERA and winning five of his six starts. Torkelson, their 1/1 in 2020, has already equaled his 10-homer output from 2024 and has an .889 OPS.
Meanwhile, veteran Javy Baez, whose $140 million contract looked like dead weight, is having a fine rebirth as a center fielder, batting .309 with an .829 OPS and equaling defensive stalwarts like Byron Buxton and Tyrone Taylor with three outs above average in center.
While the expected three-team race in the AL Central looks like a reality, the Tigers’ pace-setting creates an early expectation that for the second consecutive year, multiple playoff berths will come out of the once-moribund division.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- First career win for Rōki Sasaki, who’s suddenly their No. 2 starter.
2. New York Mets (-)
- Injuries starting to accrue: A.J. Minter out several months, Jesse Winker hurts an oblique.
3. San Diego Padres (+2)
- On a five-game streak just in time for Jackson Merrill’s return.
4. Detroit Tigers (+3)
- Will take AL’s best record into Denver for three against historically bad Rockies.
5. San Francisco Giants (-2)
- Wilmer Flores’ 31 RBI tied for second in NL.
6. Chicago Cubs (-)
- They’ve scored 25 more runs than any other team, which is kinda the point of this thing.
7. New York Yankees (-3)
- Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren went from rotation depth to regulars, with predictable results.
8. Seattle Mariners (+2)
- Can this suddenly productive offense camouflage loss of Logan Gilbert to flexor strain?
9. Philadelphia Phillies (-)
- Ranger Suárez gives up seven earned runs in season debut.
10. Cleveland Guardians (+2)
- Only club in our top 10 with a negative run differential.
11. Boston Red Sox (-3)
- Just brutal to lose Triston Casas for the season with gruesome patella injury.
12. Cincinnati Reds (+1)
- Reliever Alexis Díaz, a 2023 All-Star, sent to minor leagues.
13. Houston Astros (+1)
- Lance McCullers Jr., making first start since 2022 World Series, ‘pretty proud of myself getting back.’
14. Texas Rangers (-3)
- Swoon results in firing of ‘offensive coordinator’ Donnie Ecker. Is Mike McCarthy hiring?
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
- Eesh: Corbin Burnes to miss a start with shoulder inflammation.
16. Kansas City Royals (+3)
- Hit two weeks’ worth of home runs in one afternoon.
17. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
- Until further notice, this is a Chandler Simpson appreciation space.
18. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)
- Have hit the fewest home runs (23) in majors.
19. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
- Will this be remembered as the weekend the Cubs left them behind for good?
20. Atlanta Braves (-)
- Have lost 11 of 16 against clubs with winning records.
21. Washington Nationals (-)
- James Wood pushes OPS to .926.
22. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- Alec Burleson hits first home run since Aug. 17.
23. Baltimore Orioles (-)
- Kyle Gibson giving up nearly a home run per inning through two starts.
24. Athletics (+1)
- They return to Yolo County three games over .500 after 4-2 trip.
25. Minnesota Twins (+1)
- Won their second series at Fenway Park since 2014.
26. Los Angeles Angels (-2)
- That’s 15 losses in 19 games and it’s once again time to prepare for the draft and trade deadline.
27. Miami Marlins (-)
- Kyle Stowers’ .928 OPS trails only Tucker (.976), Schwarber (.955) in OPS by Kyles.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)
- A grim start from Paul Skenes, followed by a workmanlike sweep by the Padres.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
- They’ve now won two whole series this year after taking a pair from Houston.
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Current pace: 127 losses, with Tigers coming to town.
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