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Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tigers earn No. 2 spot in ESPN's midseason rankings and chase historic pace
Tigers earn No. 2 spot in ESPN's midseason rankings and chase historic pace originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ESPN Analyst Puts Tigers at No. 2 in Midseason Stock Watch It's the year of the Tiger, according to ESPN. Halfway through the 2025 MLB season, the numbers are starting to reflect what Detroit Tigers fans have started to let themselves believe. Advertisement ESPN's Bradford Doolittle placed the Tigers No. 2 in his latest MLB Stock Watch, ranking them just behind the Dodgers as the most well-positioned team entering the second half. Detroit owns a 99.8% chance of making the playoffs and is on pace for nearly 98 wins, with a 14.4% shot at winning it all. Yes, this is real. Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal faces the Minnesota Twins on June 29, 2025, at Comerica Park.© Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images 'If the season ended today,' Doolittle wrote, 'the Tigers' Pythagorean winning percentage would be one of the five best in franchise history.' That puts this team in rarefied air—trailing only the legendary squads of 1909 (Ty Cobb), 1934–35 (Hank Greenberg), and 1968 (Denny McLain), and ahead of the 1984 Kirk Gibson-led team that actually won it all. Advertisement Detroit has done more than just beat expectations. They've shifted a rebuild that once looked stuck in neutral into high gear. They are charging to the top of the American League standings behind breakout stars and one ace making a historic case of his own. Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has been even better in 2025. He leads the AL in wins, ranks second in strikeouts, and sits fourth in ERA. According to Doolittle's proprietary AXE metric, he's sixth-best in all of MLB and the Tigers' undisputed first-half MVP. If he keeps this up, Skubal could do something only Grover Alexander, Lefty Grove, and Sandy Koufax have done—win the pitching Triple Crown in back-to-back seasons. Advertisement That kind of history usually doesn't happen in Detroit. But right now, the Tigers aren't just making noise—they're making comparisons to legends. And if the second half looks anything like the first, they might end up joining them. Related: Hall of Famer Calls Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal a Bully on the Mound Related: Why the Tigers' Silence on This All Star's Future Is Concerning This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN Warns Braves Must Change Fast After Ronald Acuña Jr. News and Slumping Stars
The Atlanta Braves are running out of time to wait for things to click. As ESPN bluntly put it in their latest MLB Stock Watch: 'Something has to change.' Five weeks into the 2025 season, what was once a forecast of 96.5 wins and a 91.1% playoff chance for Atlanta has nose-dived. Now, ESPN's projections show just 86.7 wins and playoff odds under 44%, a stunning fall for a team that entered the season among the National League favorites. Advertisement The biggest issue? Injuries — and the ripple effects they're causing. Per ESPN: 'Hopes that the Braves can still reach their ceiling hinge on the longed-for returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr.' Without their two most dynamic stars, the Braves are trying to keep their head above water in a top-heavy National League. They're still chasing consistency after starting the year 0-7. It was first reported that Acuña will make one final trip to Los Angeles for additional quad strength testing before being cleared to begin his rehab stint. Braves manager Brian Snitker mentioned that the timing of the trip is still uncertain. However, the team now confirms that Acuña won't need to return to L.A. and is expected to start rehab games later this month. Late May still appears to be a realistic target for his return to Atlanta's lineup. Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) reacts as he leaves the field assisted by a Braves trainer after Acuña suffered an apparent injury on a steal attempt against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC LeClaire-Imagn Images But it's not just the injured stars. Atlanta's healthy core hasn't held up its end either. ESPN calls out Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias as underperformers who must 'hit their stride.' That group, once seen as the team's stabilizing force, has failed to carry the load with Strider and Acuña sidelined. Advertisement The Braves aren't built to tank — they still have talent. But in a league where the Dodgers have surged, mediocrity may not be enough to sneak into October. The good news? ESPN notes the Braves won't face the Dodgers again this regular season — a blessing, given how dominant L.A. has looked. For now, the mission is survival. If Atlanta can stay afloat until reinforcements arrive, there's still a path forward. But in the words of ESPN: 'They have a lot of work to do.' Related: AJ Smith-Shawver Flirts With History as Braves No-Hit Streak Lives On Related: Fans Are Urging Braves to Make Big Eli White Decision When Ronald Acuña Jr. Returns Related: Braves Verdugo Sends Message About Profar's Future
