Can Detroit Tigers get to 96 wins in 2025? Here’s what it would take
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold and Chris Brown break down what’s going right for the Detroit Tigers in the past month, plus if 96 wins is achievable.
The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Mets, 6-2, to avoid a series sweep.Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run home run.Riley Greene delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-out single in the fifth inning.
The Detroit Tigers needed a big swing.
Riley Greene, a two-time All-Star in his fourth MLB season, delivered a two-run single in a left-on-left matchup against New York Mets reliever Gregory Soto in the fifth inning. He ripped a sixth-pitch sinker below the strike zone with two strikes and two outs, driving in the go-ahead runs.
The Tigers defeated the Mets with a 6-2 win on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in the finale of the three-game series at Comerica Park, avoiding the sweep.
The two-run single from Greene put the Tigers ahead, 3-1.
He has collected 103 RBIs in 137 games, ranking fifth among MLB players and trailing only Kyle Schwarber (119), Pete Alonso (113), Cal Raleigh (109) and Eugenio Suárez (105). He also ranks 10th in MLB with 32 home runs.
The Tigers (81-60) kept the Mets from scoring over the final three innings, even without right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan, who suffered right groin tightness while warming up in the bullpen.
After Greene’s swing, the Tigers extended their lead to 6-2 on Kerry Carpenter’s three-run home run off right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley in the seventh inning.
A single from Colt Keith and a walk from Gleyber Torres set the table for Carpenter, who pulled a down-and-in 100 mph fastball to right field for the three-run blast.
It was Carpenter’s 23rd homer in 111 games.
Casey Mize bounces back
Right-hander Casey Mize took a small step in the right direction.
The 28-year-old, who had a 7.20 ERA in his past eight starts, allowed one run on five hits and zero walks with three strikeouts across five innings, throwing 69 pitches. He didn’t return for the sixth inning because that would’ve forced him to face the heart of the Mets’ lineup for a third time.
The Mets had traffic on the bases in the first three innings: two singles in the first, one single in the second and two doubles in the third. Mize finished strong by retiring his final seven batters.
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The Mets tied the game, 1-1, on a pair of doubles from Francisco Lindor and Alonso. Both were poorly executed pitches: Lindor hit a middle-middle splitter with one strike; Alonso hit a middle-middle sinker with one strike.
Mize allowed one earned run or fewer for the first time since July 29 (when he lasted just 1⅔ innings) — and for the second time since July 5.
He owns a 3.87 ERA in 24 starts.
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Kyle Finnegan-less bullpen
Without Finnegan, the Tigers pieced together the final 11 outs with right-handed relievers Tommy Kahnle (1â…“ innings), Will Vest (1â…“ innings) and Rafael Montero (one inning). All three relievers kept the Mets from scoring.
The biggest moment occurred in the sixth inning, when the Mets had the bases loaded and one out against Kahnle.
Kahnle threw a middle-middle changeup on the first pitch to Starling Marte that should’ve hit into the air, at least for a sacrifice fly, but Marte grounded into an inning-ending double play.
There were bumps along the way, but the Tigers’ bullpen survived without Finnegan in the late innings.
Kahnle escaped a two-out walk in the seventh; Vest worked around a one-out single and a two-out walk in the eighth; Montero slammed the door despite a two-out walk in the ninth.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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