Tigers Today podcast: There's more good than bad (14-11) after 25 games
Tony PaulChris McCosky and Tony Paul talk about the Tigers' 14-11 record after 25 games heading into this weekend's series against the Royals at Comerica Park.
On the positive side, the Tigers have the No. 1-ranked bullpen in the major leagues, reliever Jason Foley hasn't allowed a run in his first 11 appearances, the team's overall pitching is ranked third in the American League with a 3.00 ERA and Tarik Skubal is 3-0 and ranked fifth with a 1.82 ERA.
"They're still kind of finding themselves," Chris said on the podcast. "They've been unbeaten in five straight road series. They haven't done that since 2007. That's not a small thing. Those wins count. Their run differential is plus-seven and they've been kind of scruffy at home.
"Tork (Spencer Torkelson) hasn't found his stride and the young guys, Colt Keith and Parker Meadows, have struggled, but pitching has been lights out and they're winning nearly all of the close games."
On the negative side, the Tigers' offense is ranked 10th out of 15 AL teams with a .222 batting average, but they went 4-2 on the last road trip to Minnesota and Tampa Bay, and outfielder Riley Greene had his first two home-run game of his career against the Rays and is tied with teammate Mark Canha with five homers.
"People have to understand what (Greene's) walks mean," Chris said of Greene's team-leading 21 walks in 25 games. "It's not the accumulation of walks. Nobody wants Riley to walk. It means he's seeing pitches, he's waiting to get the pitches he can drive and that's why you've seen the damage, starting with that two home-run game. In this lineup, he's the dangerous guy, the guy you've got to look out for."
Here's other highlights from Tigers Today, the Detroit News/Detroit Tigers podcast.
▶ :20: Zero sleep after 6 a.m. flight
▶ 1:20: Not missing the NFL Draft in Detroit
▶ 2:30: "Lights out" pitching
▶ 4:20: AJ Hinch on "bittersweet" roadtrip
▶ 5:50: Hinch's mantra: Win today
▶ 7:40: Jason Foley on a roll
▶ 9:10: Riley Greene laying off pitches
▶ 9:50: Little Ceasars Pizza celebration after homers
▶ 11:10: Who is Buddy Kennedy?
▶ 12:40: When will we see Jace Jung?
▶ 14:20: Javier Báez "worth the price of admission"
▶ 17:50: Parker Meadows hits 424-foot HR
▶ 20:00: Colt Keith's low strikeout rate
▶ 24:50: Spencer Torkelson's scouting reports
▶ 26:20: Yankees, Guardians looming
Subscribe to Detroit News podcasts
▶ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tigers-today/id1739432190
▶ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3GpFGEjKATB6QCWghdRWCs
Previous Tigers Today podcasts
▶ McCosky returns to discuss 7-4 start, rugged schedule
▶ Henning, Paul talk early returns, Jason Benetti, Opening Day
▶ Graham, Paul unveil inaugural baseball movie draft