Happy Thursday, everyone! While the Tigers continue to struggle in Minnesota (blame it on the weather!), there’s plenty of news to get us through until the afternoon game today. We’ll take a look at Justin Verlander’s injury, how Colt Keith is making a big difference already this season, and how the Pirates have already locked down one of the hottest prospects in baseball. With all these early extensions, is it likely that the Tigers will consider making an offer for Kevin McGonigle? Probably not,
but it’s nice to dream.
Let’s just get right into the news of the week.
Detroit Tigers News
- Cody Stavenhagen reports on Justin Verlander’s move to the 15-day IL. Verlander said of the decision to sideline him:
“It was kind of like a wait-and-see game, if it can get good enough. To be quite frank, I think it probably is good enough if we wanted to push it. But A.J. [Hinch] and the front office — and I agree with them — it’s probably not the time of year to do that, unfortunately.”
- The Athletic looked at each team’s early difference maker this season, and it might surprise (or might not) that they selected Colt Keith for the Tigers:
Though he’s yet to hit a home run on the year, Keith has more than made up for it with a .407 average and 1.004 OPS on the back of 11 hits, including four doubles to start his season. Of particular note, Keith has raised his bat speed by 3 mph, going from 70.7 mph (27th percentile) in 2025 to 73.7 mph (74th percentile) in 2026. In turn, his Average Exit Velocity, Squared-Up, Barrel and Hard-Hit Rates have all increased year over year. He’s also chasing and whiffing less than he ever has before. Last year, Detroit sent six Tigers to the All-Star Game. Keith is making an early case to be part of this year’s contingent. — Flores
- Last week’s attendance at the Tigers’ home opener was the best it has been in almost a decade.
- If someone in your life is a big fan of the Fourth Wing series, you’re going to want to get them this special game package.
AL Central News
- The White Sox didn’t waste any time before optioning pitcher Shane Smith. Why did it only take three starts for them to pull him?
- Cole Ragans who was hit in the hand with a ball during his last outing for the Royals, is expected to make his next start.
- Ummmm….
MLB News
- Several would-be contenders are figuring out how to move forward now that they’ve been dealt early season injury woes.
- A look at the sluggish start for some batters who can’t seem to get things going.
- Is Jose Soriano untouchable this year?
- Orioles’ pitcher Zach Eflin will undergo Tommy John Surgery.
- Rob Refsnyder shocked everyone with this home run robbery.
- Konnor Griffin and the Pirates reach a nine-year extension agreement. Still looking at you, Tigers…
- Shohei Ohtani has tied Ichiro Suzuki for longest on-base record by a Japanese player.
- Which players could make the biggest impact for teams if they got called up?
- Three free agent pitchers who could still make a difference this season.
- This will be the last season of baseball as we know it, with some potential major shakeups down the line.
- A look at the wild brawl between the Braves and Angels.
- As expected, suspensions have now been handed down for that kerfuffle.
- Former Tigers enemy Chris Sale had a very bad game, and hit himself in the head with a baseball to show his frustration.
- Four-time All-Star Davey Lopes has passed away at 80.
- Some umpires are worried that the ABS is causing fans to judge them by nearly impossible standards. ($)
- I could simply never leave my house again if this happened to me on a broadcast.
