Detroit Tigers Will be a Pain for the New York Yankees

I realize that it might be humorous to make assumptions for the New York Yankees. This current stretch is by far their worst of the season, having lost seven of their last eight games. However, I’ve been around long enough to realize this too, shall pass and that the Yankees will win the American League East. Despite the other four AL East teams narrowing the gap, I do believe the biggest threat to the Yanks repeating as AL champs lies outside of their division. In fact, it is a team that does have a history of thwarting New York in the playoffs.

The Detroit Tigers can easily derail the Yankees this October.

When the Tigers made their run last year to the divisional round, it was assumed that outside of Tarik Skubal, they were a bunch of no names that got hot at the right time. If that’s your vision of them in 2025, you need a crash course. A pair of former number one overall picks are fueling Detroit’s rise to the largest lead in any of Major League Baseball’s six divisions. First baseman Spencer Torkelson is on pace to set career highs in all offensive categories. He provides a solid #2 option behind CF/LF Riley Greene who will make his second All Star team. Javier Baez, miserable in his first three seasons in Detroit, has moved to the outfield and is hitting close to .300. Old friend Gleyber Torres is thriving outside of the glare of New York, posting a career best .385 on base percentage. As for the other overall #1 pick, Casey Mize is proving to be a tremendous weapon after the lefty Skubal. The right-hander Mize is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts. Reese Olson, currently on the injured list, will be back within two weeks giving the Tigers another starting pitcher with an under 3.00 ERA. That is a solid rotation heading into any postseason series.

Before the Houston Astros became the Yankees’ playoff kryptonite, there were the Detroit Tigers. Three times (2006, 2011 and 2012) Detroit got the better of New York, ending each season in painstaking fashion. 2006 saw Kenny Rogers and his sticky fingers embarrass the heavily favored Yankees (Alex Rodriguez batted 8th in Game 4). In 2011, Doug Fister and a young Max Scherzer helped hold the Yankees to two runs in a series clinching game 5 win at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers then swept the Yankees in the following year’s ALCS with Derek Jeter missing the entire series with an ankle injury. These teams are far different now than they were then. No one remains from either set of teams so it’s not truly a rematch. However, there will be some painful memories dredged up by the networks should they meet again in October.

I do not take lightly the other teams in the American League East. It won’t be easy for the Yankees to hold on to their ever shrinking lead. Ultimately, I believe they are the best team in the division. Their road back to the World Series will have to go through the Motor City.

Author: Tom Lynch

Family is everything to me. Baseball is a close second. What better way to combine my two favorite passions than to write about them! My three children each have a different baseball team, hence the title, "Three Unassisted". I write about not only my thoughts but also the musings of Ryan (Yankees), Caitlyn (Phillies) and Matthew (Mets). I may have grown up a Yankees fan but since family is greater than ball, I also root for the Phillies and Mets. I love talking about my kids. I love talking about baseball. That lethal combination will keep you coming back for more. Happy reading! View all posts by Tom Lynch