The Detroit Tigers made a statement in front of a full house and national audience by defeating the Chicago Cubs, reinforcing their status as one of baseball’s top contenders.
Following the game, manager A.J. Hinch spoke with The Detroit Free Press’s Evan Petzold and was clear about the team’s mindset:
“I’m not sure how much higher we need to rise. I get the idea of raising the bar, but it’s already pretty high here. I really appreciate how our guys show up and compete every day.”
Looking at their performance over the past year, it’s evident this isn’t a lucky stretch — the Tigers have been consistently playing at a high level. They’re not catching lightning in a bottle; they’re meeting expectations they’ve long established internally.
The victory was led by lefty Tarik Skubal, who pitched 7.2 strong innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out six and walking none. Although his 21-inning scoreless streak ended, his control and dominance remained steady.
This team’s success isn’t about momentum — it’s about consistency. Each win builds on a foundation laid months ago, driven by a manager focused not on headlines but on daily execution. What drives them isn’t external approval — it’s proving themselves repeatedly.
Offensively, the Tigers delivered in big moments. Spencer Torkelson broke a tie with a home run, and Justyn-Henry Malloy homered in his first at-bat since being recalled. A string of two-out hits in the fifth inning helped secure the victory and extend Detroit’s winning streak.
In a playoff-type decision, Hinch called on Will Vest in a high-pressure spot against Seiya Suzuki. Vest handled it with poise, earning his 10th save and further cementing his late-inning role.
The loss highlighted the growing divide between a rising contender and a team still trying to find its footing.
Detroit gets right back to work, with Tyler Holton set to start against Jameson Taillon — who last time at Comerica Park, surrendered a grand slam.
No need to raise the bar — the Tigers are already exceeding it.
