The Tiger Beat: A little change can make a difference

The Tigers are swinging differently, and they’re winning.

It’s Friday and the Tigers are in Toronto for the “Rivalry Weekend” which I think invites a very important question you guys can take to the comments: “Who are the Tigers’ real rivals?” Because I think we can all agree that the era of the AL East is long behind them, and the Guardians likely make more sense as a rival. Want interleague? Well, MLB has been trying to force a rivalry narrative with the Pirates for years thanks to the schedule. I’d also argue that for a period where the Tigers were making it regualry to the postseason, the A’s felt like a rival. I’m curious what everyone else thinks!

Let’s jump right into the news.

Detroit Tigers News:

• Sports Illustrated spotlighted seven batters who have made changes to their stance to see big payoff, and to no one’s surprise, there are multiple Tigers on the list. (Heck, we saw it happen within a game for Trey Sweeney this week).

Of Spencer Torkelson, they said:

Last year, Torkelson struggled at the plate in almost every metric but bat speed. He’s maintained his bat speed but with better contact and a higher rate of competitive swings. After using a barely opened 2-degree stance in 2024, he’s opened up with a 16-degree stance this year. He’s noticeably moved back in the box (5.5 inches), too, giving his bat speed a completely new position of power to work from.

Of Javier Baez, they said:

Báez and his stance changes are an anomaly from most of the others on this list: He closed his stance this year, from 33 degrees in 2024 to just 10 degrees this year. That has led to a much shorter step for his lead foot, which may be helping him get his swing cadence down better than in past seasons. His intercept point (where the bat meets the ball) is now double the distance where it was last year relative to the pitcher, which would support the idea his timing is better.

• Jim Bowden at The Athletic talked about some of the biggest surprises this season ($), so naturally, he spoke about the Tigers:

The Tigers rank second in the AL in team ERA (3.20) behind the Royals, but they arguably have the best five-man rotation in the league with reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize (currently on the injured list with a hamstring strain), Reese Olson and rookie Jackson Jobe. Their offense is second in the AL in runs scored, trailing only the Yankees, and it’s loaded with young power bats: First baseman Spencer Torkelson has blasted 11 homers, while outfielders Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene have hit nine apiece.

AL Central News:

• Twins’ Hall of Famer Paul Molitor talks to FanGraphs about his approach to hitting.
• Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa both left Thursday’s game after a brutal outfield collision .
• Corey Kluber is heading back to Cleveland as the Guardians’ new Pitching Special Assistant .

MLB News:

• Jay Jaffe shares his take on the newly reinstated once-banned players , and he’s not happy.
• Checking in with the adorable crocheting Red Sox fan.

• The Pirates will be doing a special bobblehead night for late rapper Mac Miller.
• ESPN is ranking Rivalry Weekend Matchups. Of the Tigers/Blue Jays they said:

Once upon a time, this was a heated AL East affair. That changed when the Tigers moved to the AL Central in 1998. Still, just a four-hour, 230-mile/370-kilometer drive separates the two cities and, with the Expos long gone, the Blue Jays don’t have a Canadian sibling franchise to loathe. Maybe the recent tense U.S.-Canada relations will make for a zestier-than-usual weekend in Toronto.

• The Reds might be the only ones pumped that Pete Rose is no longer banned.
• Speaking of which, voting members talk about whether or not they believe Rose should be in the Hall of Fame . ($)