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Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Tigers star LHP Tarik Skubal placed on paternity list
July 23 - Detroit Tigers ace left-hander Tarik Skubal was placed on the paternity list Wednesday with his wife close to giving birth to the couple's second child. Skubal is slated to start Saturday's game against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. A player can miss three games while on the list. "It'll be a three-day paternity," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters, "and we'll celebrate another Skubal baby." Skubal was placed on the list prior to Detroit's afternoon game against the host Pittsburgh Pirates. "We're on baby watch," Hinch said. "It's imminent. We don't really know when the baby is coming. They're anticipating it could be any minute." Skubal, 28, last started on Sunday when he received a no-decision while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings against the host Texas Rangers. He gave up four hits and the run he was charged with scored after he exited in the seventh inning. Skubal is making a run at winning consecutive American League Cy Young Awards. He is 10-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 20 starts this season; he was 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 31 starts when he won the honor last season. The AL starter in the All-Star Game has struck out 164 and walked just 16 in 127 2/3 innings this season. Right-hander Troy Melton was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday and made his major league debut against the Pirates. He was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out seven, walking two and serving up two homers. Melton, 24, was 2-3 with a 2.99 ERA in 18 appearances (16 starts) at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. The Tigers also designated outfielder Brewer Hicklen for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for Melton. Hicklen, 29, went 2-for-3 with two runs in his lone game with the Tigers. He batted .227 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 61 games at Toledo. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers CF Parker Meadows 'trying to find a groove' as playing time decreases
PITTSBURGH — Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows experienced "Up North" in Michigan for the first time during the All-Star break with a trip to Traverse City. His review? "It's great in the summer," Meadows said. But the All-Star break has come and gone. MONDAY'S NOTEBOOK: Tigers prospect Troy Melton to start Wednesday vs Pirates for MLB debut With two months until the playoffs, Meadows has seen his playing time decrease − a reflection of his struggles at the plate, with less contact and more strikeouts. The 25-year-old missed the first two months of the season with a musculocutaneous nerve injury that sidelined him from late February until early June. "I'm trying to find a groove," Meadows said Sunday, July 20, before the Tigers' series finale against the Texas Rangers. "I'm looking forward to every day, and I'm still keeping that confidence. This game, as you know, it's crazy up and down. I'm just riding the wave." In 2025, Meadows is hitting .191 with two home runs, 10 walks and 38 strikeouts in 34 games, posting a .543 OPS. He hit a double off Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Monday, July 21 — his first extra-base hit since June 22. So far, his performance has fallen short of expectations. "It looks like his timing has not stayed consistent," manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday's game. "So his barrel contact has not been consistent. There's been some swing and miss. And he's trying to find it." "I think the timing is starting to come around," Meadows said. "It's just a matter of finding a barrel. Once I do find that barrel, I think everything is going to click and roll for me. I'm just one at-bat away." JUNE 2025: Parker Meadows gives the Tigers a spark, some instant electricity and a great vibe Meanwhile, Meadows' playing time continues to dwindle. Meadows, as a left-handed hitter, used to bat leadoff against right-handed pitchers and ninth against left-handed pitchers. These days, he bats near the bottom of the lineup against righties − and sits against lefties. "You just try to win the game," Hinch said. "Anytime you're giving somebody playing time, you're taking it away from somebody else. Matt Vierling would sit if Parker plays. Against a lefty, that doesn't make a lot of sense." Remember how Meadows is staying confident in himself? The Tigers are confident in him, too. "We certainly believe in him," Hinch said. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] This isn't the first time Meadows has endured a rough stretch. In 2024, he hit .096 with a .443 OPS in 32 games, prompting the Tigers to option him to Triple-A Toledo. He spent two months with the Mud Hens, working on the timing of his swing by adjusting the position of his hands in his setup. He returned to the Tigers and hit .299 with an .857 OPS over his final 50 games. A return to Triple-A in 2025 could reignite Meadows. For now, though, he remains with the Tigers in the big leagues. When Meadows plays, he almost always provides above-average defense in center field − though he admitted he has been "a little sluggish" lately. Still, he feels like he hasn't let his struggles at the plate affect his performance in the field. "Defense never slumps," Meadows said. "I like to think of it that way. Missing the whole first half of the season was tough, but now, no excuses. I'm trying to do anything I can to help the team win. "When you're not hitting, you got to try to find ways to help the team. I'll continue to try to do that." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Parker Meadows continues to struggle, loses playing time
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Carlos Hernández simplifies his mix: Fewer pitches, more splitters
ARLINGTON, TX — Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Carlos Hernández, a flamethrower who has struggled to command his pitches, overhauled his pitch mix just before the All-Star break in search of a breakthrough. He is throwing fewer pitch types. And he is throwing way more splitters. "Dynamic, physical build, the high-end velocity, the split, the movement," manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday, July 20, before the Tigers' series finale against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. "It makes for a tough combo when he can use his stuff correctly." THREE QUESTIONS: Key questions for Tigers after All-Star break, including the bullpen problem Hernández — claimed off waivers in mid-June from the Philadelphia Phillies — owns a 6.17 ERA with 19 walks and 34 strikeouts across 35 innings in 34 games, including an 8.68 ERA in nine games with the Tigers. But Hernández hasn't allowed a run or given up a hit in two relief appearances entering Sunday — his first two games with the refined pitch mix. In those outings, he has one walk and three strikeouts across two innings. He used to throw six pitches. Now, Hernández relies on just two: a splitter and a four-seam fastball. "I think it shows just how dynamic his split is," Hinch said of Hernández, whose fastball averages 97.8 mph and splitter generates a 49.1% whiff rate. "He's been a starter mix his whole career, and while those pitches have been effective for him at times, a more simplified approach has been better performance." Celebrate 125 epic seasons of the Tigers with our new book! In his first 32 games, Hernández featured this pitch mix: 55.4% four-seam fastball, 17.4% sliders, 14.2% splitters, 11.1% curveballs, 1.7% sinkers, 0.2% sweepers. In his last two games: 65% splitters, 27.5% four-seam fastballs, 5% sliders, 2.5% curveballs. (He trimmed his pitch usage to just two in his most recent game: 68.4% splitters, 31.6% four-seam fastballs.) Moving forward, Hernández is expected to keep his pitch mix simplified to splitters and fastballs while focusing on throwing strikes to cut down on walks. MORE ABOUT HIM: Flamethrower Carlos Hernández joins Tigers' bullpen, meets with pitching coaches "It was like 70%," Hinch said, referencing Hernández's splitter usage on Saturday, July 19, against the Rangers. "That's obviously very extreme, but it's also very effective. Generally speaking, you want to throw your best pitch the most. Right now, his split has been very dynamic." Everyone is about to find out if less is more. If not, the Tigers won't have any choice but to scrap the Hernández project. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Who is TBD in pitching plan? The Tigers have set two of three starting pitchers for their upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park: right-hander Jack Flaherty on Monday, July 21, and right-hander Casey Mize on Tuesday, July 22. There isn't a starter listed for the series finale, a day game on Wednesday, July 23. "We're still sorting through what we're going to do," Hinch said. Amid 13 games in 13 days to open the season's second half, the Tigers have pushed the whole rotation back one day — something Hinch said the Tigers have been "very consistent" about doing this season. Right-hander Reese Olson is scheduled to start Thursday, July 24, in the opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. For Wednesday, the Tigers haven't made a decision on the starting pitcher, but right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck stiffness) might not be ready to return from the injured list. Another option is left-hander Dietrich Enns. "We'll sort through our options," Hinch said. Is Troy Melton coming soon? It's unclear if right-hander Troy Melton will be the answer for Wednesday's start against the Pirates, but the 24-year-old has put himself on the radar for an MLB promotion in the near future, likely as a starter but possibly as a reliever. The only question is his ability to get outs against left-handed hitters. For Triple-A Toledo, the strike-throwing Melton has a 2.72 ERA with nine walks and 56 strikeouts across 36⅓ innings in eight games (six starts). Before that, he registered a 3.23 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Erie. Melton is the Tigers' No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. As a Mud Hen, Melton is throwing 50% fastballs, 21.7% cutters, 12.9% sliders, 8.3% changeups and 7.1% curveballs. He has three swing-and-miss weapons. His fastball averages 96.7 mph and maxes out at 99.9 mph, but more importantly, it generates a 25.9% whiff rate. (For reference, the Triple-A average for fastball whiff rate is 22.8%.) Beyond that, his cutter has a 37.7% whiff rate and his slider has a 48.7% whiff rate. The Tigers selected Melton with the No. 117 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of San Diego State. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Carlos Hernández simplifies plan; Troy Melton emerges
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Tigers look to stop rare dry spell against Rangers
July 19 - The Texas Rangers look to build on a thrilling win when they clash with the suddenly swooning Detroit Tigers on Saturday in the middle game of a three-game set in Arlington, Texas. The game will feature a battle of 25-year-old right-handers on the mound as Keider Montero (4-1, 4.02 ERA) will start for the Tigers against Kumar Rocker (3-4, 6.39) for Texas. The Rangers won the series opener 2-0 on Friday when Corey Seager ripped a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning to provide the winning margin. Texas has won three of its past four contests while the Tigers, who own the best record in the majors, have dropped a season-high five straight games. "Our guys are ready to play the whole schedule," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said Friday when asked about the losing streak. "I've said that when we've been counted out and down, and I've said that when we've been the hottest team in baseball. My job is to keep these guys humble and hungry." The Tigers managed just four singles and left five on base against four Texas pitchers on Friday, wasting the solid start of Reese Olson, who held the Rangers to two hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings of work. Detroit was shut out for sixth time this season and for the first time since June 25. Rocker suffered his most uneven performance of the year while recording a no decision in his last time out, allowing six runs on six hits (three of them home runs) and a walk over 4 1/3 innings on July 9 in a game the Rangers lost 11-8 to the Angels in Anaheim, Calif. That snapped a stretch of four straight starts in which he lasted at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer. "Rocker had been pitching well, locating the ball better and pounding the strike zone but he got away from that a little against the Angels," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's great how he's turned things around (this season) -- he's been giving us a chance to win and that'll you can ask." Rocker has never faced the Tigers in his 14-game major league career. Montero has been nothing but solid for Detroit while jumping back and forth from Triple-A Toledo to Detroit -- and from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He has either a win or a no decision in six of his seven starts this year and comes into Saturday after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over a three-inning relief stint in a game the Tigers lost at home 15-7 to Seattle on July 12. Before that, Montero posted a win at home against Tampa Bay on July 7, surrendering one run on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts in his first start since June 1. It will be the 25-year-old Montero's first career appearance against the Rangers. --Field Level Media
Japan Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Tigers focused on getting back to playoffs and contending for World Series
Even after an exciting, plucky Detroit Tigers team pushed its way into the postseason last year, it would have been far-fetched to predict the production the club has engineered midway through 2025. At 59-38, Detroit owns the majors' best record and sent six All-Stars to Atlanta, the most of any team. And still, it doesn't seem the Tigers are being lauded as the title contenders that their numbers suggest. Detroit, which leads Minnesota by 11½ games in the American League Central, is spearheaded by reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and his 10-3 record, 2.23 ERA and league-leading 0.83 walks plus hits per innings pitched. Fellow All-Star Riley Greene has blasted 24 home runs, while a solid bullpen has helped the Tigers post four separate five-game winning streaks. For a team on pace to win its most games since 1984 — when the Tigers went 104-58 on the way to the franchise's last World Series triumph — not much matters before October. "The goal, to me, of baseball is to win and win championships," Skubal said during the All-Star week news conference. "So as much as this is an honor, and I appreciate this moment, and I'm going to have a good time over the next couple days, my focus is on winning a championship, and that's what the game's about. So I don't really think that I've accomplished much until I win a championship." Sparking the team's turnaround from the dugout, former World Series champion manager A.J. Hinch knows better than the most of the players in the Tigers' clubhouse what it takes to finish a season as the last team standing. "I am very proud of where we're at, at the midway point of the season," said Hinch, who managed the 2017 Houston Astros to the title. "When you start looking at the series that we've won, there are a lot more series won than lost, so I think we're in a good position to have a very special summer. We just have to do a lot of work to get there. We have a good team. We have a winning team that I'll feel can stack up against anybody." Although the club's All-Star hitters — Greene, Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres and Zack McKinstry combined to go 0-for-8, and Skubal and Casey Mize combined to allow three runs on four hits in 1⅔ innings — the fact that Detroit, which lost 96 games three years ago, had players littered across the field is a testament to the present and future of what Tigers baseball has become.
