Wait, that’s it?
The Detroit Tigers are gone again?
They played just three games in Comerica Park before packing their bags and heading to Minnesota? For a game against the Twins on Monday, April 6?
This is crazy, starting the season with 10 of 13 games on the road.
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But alas, that’s the schedule.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (dives safely back to first base on a pick off throw by a Detroit Tigers pitcher in the second inning at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
Detroit Tigers players stand at attention for the National Anthem ahead of “Sunday Night Baseball” in the series finale against the St. Louis at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Detroit Tigers wrap up first home series vs St. Louis Cardinals
Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene takes the field for the game against the St. Louis at Comerica Park, Sunday, April 5, 2026.
So, let’s recap the biggest thing that happened for the Tigers over the weekend, other than simply coming home and letting rookie Kevin McGonigle unpack his car and find a place to live.
Yes, the Tigers won two out of three against the St. Louis Cardinals – a series that featured every type of weather that Mother Nature could throw at them in three days.
That’s a strong step forward, obviously, from a baseball perspective. And as a side note, they are now battle tested and weather worn, ready for nearly everything, after playing in warm sunshine, nasty rain and frigid temps.
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Welcome back to Michigan, boys.
Yes, the Tigers got a great pitching performance from Framber Valdez on Opening Day in Comerica Park.
Another great sign for the future.
Yes, the Tigers saw an offensive explosion on Saturday, scoring 11 runs in a game where they were racing a nasty rainstorm.
Another positive for an offense that had been inconsistent.
But what was the most encouraging part of the Tigers’ brief stop in Detroit before jumping on a plane and heading off like some crazy traveling circus?
It was the fact that Kerry Carpenter got hot.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter on picture day during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
After struggling at the start of the season and getting demoted in the batting order, Carpenter found his stroke. He went 4-for-9 with two homers, driving in five runs and walking twice in the three-game series against the Cardinals.
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“He’s just such a threat,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said late Sunday night. “I think sometimes he tries to do a little bit too much or tries to cover every pitch in every location. When he doesn’t, he can do so many things against the opponent. They pitch him so tough, and he can change the game with one swing.”
One swing in particular was simply incredible.
On Sunday night, Carpenter hit a monster homer, a 425-foot bomb to center.
Which is serious big-boy distance.
“He does damage to all parts,” Hinch said. “I mean, how many balls have I seen hit to dead centerfield? Certainly not at night and 30-plus degree weather.”
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Carpenter turns things around
Yes, you can say we are dealing with a small sample size.
But the change in Carpenter is obvious.
He started out the season hitting .063 and Hinch moved him out of the leadoff spot.
Was that why he got hot?
Not according to Carpenter.
“I think it just kind of worked out that way,” he said. “I think it just happened to be timed up when they moved me out of the leadoff spot. I just kind of figured out my swing again. Just got on time and got in a good place to hit.”
It’s more about timing and rhythm than where he’s hitting in the order.
Getting ready to hit and loading his bat at the right moment.
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“It’s getting to the place where I know I can swing on time and holding it,” he said.
When the timing is perfect, he is ready for a fastball but has the ability to wait for a changeup, which is far easier said than done.
But it’s something you can see when he’s crushing monster home runs and taking walks.
“When I’m walking as much as I’m walking and hitting the barrel a lot, and having good takes,” he said as he broke into a massive, bright, Kerry Carpenter smile. “It feels amazing. It feels like I’m seeing the ball out of the guy’s fingertips.”
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So, does he care where he hits in the order?
Not really.
“I like hitting in the middle of the lineup,” he said. “But, I mean, I don’t mind hitting lead off either.”
The fact that Carpenter didn’t freak out when he was moved down says a lot about him.
“He’s tough mentally,” Hinch said. “He’s in the at bat at all times. And he knows that the other side is not going to give in. I think that’s the maturity that we’re going to see as Kerry gets into this season and has some at bats like he had this entire weekend, where he draws a walk or he gets into good hitter counts.”
Cool byproduct of switching batting order
There was something else that happened over the weekend, which seemed significant.
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When Hinch moved Carpenter out of the leadoff spot, shuffling the batting order, it feels like there was a side benefit.
It has lengthened the batting order.
With Colt Keith raking – he is 11th in the American League with a 1.007 OPS.
With McGonigle getting on base every time you turn around – he’s hitting .303 with a .410 OBP.
With Gleyber Torres offering his typical professional at bats – he’s walked nine times in nine games.
With Riley Greene smashing the ball, even though he hasn’t been rewarded yet. Greene has hit the ball over 95 mph 12 times, which leads the Tigers, but he has yet to hit a homer. “Those things average out,” he said and shrugged.
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One thing that should be mentioned: Greene recorded his 500th career hit on Friday, becoming just the 20th player in 126 years of franchise history to reach 500 career hits before his 26th birthday. I mean, that’s impressive. And he is just two doubles shy of becoming only the 14th player in franchise history to reach 100 doubles by age 26.
Yes, Greene is hitting .229 but I have faith his numbers will turn around.
And with Dillon Dingler opening the season with two homers and a .887 OPS – he just looks so steady and rock solid.
And don’t look now, but Parker Meadows has turned things around, too. He’s hitting .280.
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“Parker looks really good in the box,” Carpenter said.
Add all those things up and, yes, you can find something encouraging there.
Even though the Tigers are 4-5.
“It’s like we got guys that are getting their feet under them and figuring out their approach, figuring out everything that they got going on,” Carpenter said. “I mean, when we’re clicking, it’s gonna be really good. It seems like we’re close.”
I agree. They are close.
Even though Spencer Torkelson is hitting .172 and Javier Báez (.200) has six strikeouts with one walk.
So, there is still work to be done.
But you can see it coming.
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Just having a hot Kerry Carpenter is a heck of a place to start.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kerry Carpenter heating up among many encouraging signs for Tigers