The Detroit Tigers Are Seeking a Fresh Start

Plagued by April slumps, Tigers aiming to become early risers.

The Detroit Tigers' surprise run to the 2006 American League pennant was the franchise's only trip to the postseason between the years of 1988-2009. That team, led by Jim Leyland, shocked everyone by bursting out of the gates and winning 76 of its first 112 games before disintegrating and settling for a Wild Card spot after allowing the Minnesota Twins to steal the division. It was their first trip to the Fall Classic since 1984, when Sparky Anderson oversaw a still-unbelievable 35-5 start. They strung together four straight playoff berths from 2010-14, including a spot in the 2012 World Series where they were swept by the San Francisco Giants.

Since then it's been a parade of bloated contracts and aging superstars who weren't quite what they used to be, various stages of rebuild and rebuilds of those rebuilds. In two of the past three seasons they have shown signs of life and hope after digging themselves insurmountable holes in April and May. After starting 9-24 in 2021 they went 68-61 to finish eight games under .500. Last year any optimism was quickly eradicated with a disastrous 2-9 start, though they bounced back to finish 78-84. It's not the type of trend any team desires.

Detroit, now led by first-year general manager Jeff Greenberg along with Scott Harris entering his second season as president of baseball operations, enters this season with guarded optimism. Centerfielder Riley Green is 23 years old and poised to build on last summer's promising output. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, 24, blasted 31 home runs and drove in 94 runs during his first full season in 2023. Somehwere inside Javier Baez is an excellent baseball player waiting to be rediscovered. Outfielder Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter have yet to realize their high ceilings and second baseman Colt Keith is an intriguing piece who could be a building block on a winning team.

Southpaw starter Tarik Skubal, who will get the Opening Day nod in Chicago against the White Sox, was one of baseball's best pitchers after the All-Star break last year. He's joined by free-agent acquisitions Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty and a pair of homegrown products in Casey Mize and Reese Olson. On paper, this has potential to be one of the better units in baseball if the Tigers can avoid widespread injuries to their arms, which have plagued them in recent disappointing campaigns. Throw in a plus bullpen and the bones for a competitive team are there.

The reigning American League Central Minnesota Twins did not make many splashy offseason moves and Detroit is projected to fight for second place. But they could surprise some people and it wouldn't be crazy if they were playing meaningful baseball in September. Of course, that's not going to happen if they once again falter out of the gates. Breaking out of the cycle of digging themselves an early grave is paramount. Especially considering they'll play seven games against those Twins by April 21.

It's a fresh start for the Tigers and they are desperate for a good one.

Kyle Koster is an editor at The Big Lead.