Detroit Tigers
· 2026-07-02
The Detroit Tigers won big against the New York Yankees on July 1, with a final score of 2-6, improving their record to 38-49.
The Tigers' pitching and offense have heated up, with Tarik Skubal dealing in a 9-3 win over the Yankees on June 30.
Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, and Spencer Torkelson all hit home runs, giving the Tigers their second straight win at Yankee Stadium.
The team's improved performance has sparked optimism about their chances of making the 2026 MLB playoffs.
With a strong pitching rotation and bats that have heated up, the Tigers are only six games out of the AL's final wild-card spot.
The Tigers face a tough schedule in July, with games against the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles.
They must keep winning to avoid a potential trade of Skubal, who is in his final season of club control.
The team's underlying stats are strong, with a current standing of 12th in the American League.
And their recent wins have given them a W3 streak, a promising sign for their playoff hopes.
But the Tigers dug themselves a massive hole in May, with a 6-22 record, and have lost too many close games while blowing leads.
So the trade deadline on August 3 looms over everything, making every game count.
The Tigers have gotten healthier, and their pitching rotation looks strong, but they can't stumble in July.
Greene said, "I've had faith since Day 1, we're working hard, playing hard, trying our best to win baseball games, and that's all we can do."
Skubal added, "I've never lost faith in this group, I still feel like we have a good team, and that we can put together a good run of baseball."
The Tigers' recent performance has been impressive, with Skubal being the best pitcher in the AL over the past two seasons.
And with their current record, they are still in the running for a playoff spot, making every game a must-win.