The Detroit Tigers are heading to Queens with a singular mission: turn one win into a winning streak. After snapping a frustrating five-game losing skid with a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night, the Tigers roll into Citi Field for a three-game set against the New York Mets starting Tuesday.
Sitting at 19-22, Detroit is trying to keep pace in the American League Central while navigating a growing list of injuries. The series opener features right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-3, 5.56 ERA) on the mound for the Tigers, facing off against Mets righty Freddy Peralta. While Flaherty's record doesn't jump off the page, his last outing showed signs of turning a corner—even if the offense didn't give him much support. For a Tigers team that's been piecing together innings due to rotation injuries, a clean, lengthy start from Flaherty would be a welcome sight.
That rotation took another hit when ace Tarik Skubal underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The good news? Manager A.J. Hinch reported the procedure went well, and the team is optimistic about the outcome. Still, Skubal will miss significant time, leaving Detroit to soldier on without its best arm for the foreseeable future.
The Tigers finally got a spark Sunday when rookie Gage Workman crushed his first career home run, becoming the latest Detroit prospect to make an immediate splash. He joins Hao-Yu Lee and Kevin McGonigle in a growing list of young Tigers who've gone yard in their MLB debut. That kind of energy is exactly what this lineup needs right now.
Speaking of the lineup, Detroit will be without Kerry Carpenter, who landed on the injured list with a shoulder issue. Losing one of their most potent left-handed bats puts added pressure on Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, and Colt Keith to generate offense against a Mets team that's been searching for consistency itself.
New York comes into the series trying to steady the ship after a rocky stretch. Both teams are looking to build momentum, and for the Tigers, this road trip is a chance to prove that Sunday's win was more than just a one-off—it could be the start of something bigger.