Tigers Following Lions’ Act, Surge Into Playoff Contention

A Major League Baseball club out of the national limelight for all of the past decade and thought firmly out of this year’s playoff mix as recently as two weeks ago is now thoroughly back—and is poised to shake up the league in the process.

The Tigers beat the Rays 2–1 on Tuesday afternoon, the club’s 28th win in its last 39 games. The victory extended a surprising and remarkable run in which it is MLB’s top-performing team since mid-August. The club currently holds the second wild-card slot in the American League, and it is eyeing its first winning season since 2016 and first playoff berth since 2014. 

The marked turnaround—the team was still under .500 as recently as a month ago—has prompted a significant attendance resurgence at Comerica Park. The Tigers are averaging about 22,000 fans per game, up by roughly 12% from a year ago. Detroit has already clinched its best annual figure at the gate since 2018, and further lift is possible depending on the total from the final five regular-season games.

Boosted in part by a start by ace pitcher and likely AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Tuesday’s game drew 22,770, a solid draw for a weekday afternoon contest initially delayed by rain. Armed in part with Skubal, now eyeing a win of pitching’s Triple Crown and 18–4 on the season, the Tigers could become the proverbial team that opponents don’t want to face in the playoffs. 

“Our guys know what’s at stake, and we’re having a great time chasing down what we hope to be some of the most memorable baseball” in Detroit in a decade, said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. The former Astros skipper has also been in the midst of a career rehabilitation following a prior firing from Houston for his role in that club’s sign-stealing scandal. 

Furthering the Tigers’ reborn win-now mentality, the club this week called up top minor-league pitching prospect Jackson Jobe to provide additional fortification out of the bullpen. 

Back on the Air

The Tigers’ resurgence somewhat mirrors their NFL neighbors, the Lions, who broke through an even longer stretch of losing in 2023 to reach the NFC championship game. For the NFL, the Lions’ rebuild reactivated the No. 14 U.S. media market that remains the center of the U.S. automotive industry and is a critical corporate hub. 

Similar benefits are also likely to head MLB’s way. But in the immediate term, it’s also a big relief that the Tigers are once again broadly available on television in the Detroit market. The Tigers were among those most affected by a nearly three-month carriage standoff between Comcast, the country’s No. 2 cable distributor and a significant entity in Michigan, and Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports Group. Comcast and DSG resolved their issues in late July, just before the Tigers began their on-field tear.