CC Sabathia on entering the Hall of Fame and wearing a Yankees cap on his plaque
CC Sabathia will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame this July and tells USA TODAY Sports why his plaque will feature him wearing a Yankees cap.
Sports Seriously
More often than not, a surprise team will seduce and then disappoint fans the next season, its breakout success something of a mirage.
Yet what the Detroit Tigers are building seems very, very real.
The Tigers aren’t just building upon their surprise playoff spot, wild-card upset and trip to the Division Series. No, that would be selling the best team in the American League a little too short. Detroit is off to a 22-13 start, best in the AL, and their plus-63 run differential is tops in the major leagues.
With that, they’ve zoomed to fourth in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, likely their highest position since a couple fellows named Max and Justin were pitching for them.
This prosperity is built on some compelling turnarounds: Former No. 1 overall picks Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson are playing up to their potential, with Mize – No. 1 overall in 2018 – posting a 2.70 ERA and winning five of his six starts. Torkelson, their 1/1 in 2020, has already equaled his 10-homer output from 2024 and has an .889 OPS.
Meanwhile, veteran Javy Baez, whose $140 million contract looked like dead weight, is having a fine rebirth as a center fielder, batting .309 with an .829 OPS and equaling defensive stalwarts like Byron Buxton and Tyrone Taylor with three outs above average in center.
While the expected three-team race in the AL Central looks like a reality, the Tigers’ pace-setting creates an early expectation that for the second consecutive year, multiple playoff berths will come out of the once-moribund division.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)First career win for Rōki Sasaki, who’s suddenly their No. 2 starter.Injuries starting to accrue: A.J. Minter out several months, Jesse Winker hurts an oblique.3. San Diego Padres (+2)On a five-game streak just in time for Jackson Merrill’s return.4. Detroit Tigers (+3)Will take AL’s best record into Denver for three against historically bad Rockies.Wilmer Flores’ 31 RBI tied for second in NL.They’ve scored 25 more runs than any other team, which is kinda the point of this thing.7. New York Yankees (-3)Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren went from rotation depth to regulars, with predictable results.Can this suddenly productive offense camouflage loss of Logan Gilbert to flexor strain?Ranger Suárez gives up seven earned runs in season debut.10. Cleveland Guardians (+2)Only club in our top 10 with a negative run differential.Just brutal to lose Triston Casas for the season with gruesome patella injury.12. Cincinnati Reds (+1)Reliever Alexis Díaz, a 2023 All-Star, sent to minor leagues.Lance McCullers Jr., making first start since 2022 World Series, “pretty proud of myself getting back.”Swoon results in firing of “offensive coordinator” Donnie Ecker. Is Mike McCarthy hiring?15. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)Eesh: Corbin Burnes to miss a start with shoulder inflammation.17. Tampa Bay Rays (-)Have hit the fewest home runs (23) in majors.Will this be remembered as the weekend the Cubs left them behind for good?20. Atlanta Braves (-)Have lost 11 of 16 against clubs with winning records.21. Washington Nationals (-)James Wood pushes OPS to .926.22. St. Louis Cardinals (-)Alec Burleson hits first home run since Aug. 17.Kyle Gibson giving up nearly a home run per inning through two starts.24. Athletics (+1)They return to Yolo County three games over .500 after 4-2 trip.Won their second series at Fenway Park since 2014.26. Los Angeles Angels (-2)That’s 15 losses in 19 games and it’s once again time to prepare for the draft and trade deadline.27. Miami Marlins (-)Kyle Stowers’ .928 OPS trails only Tucker (.976), Schwarber (.955) in OPS by Kyles.28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)29. Chicago White Sox (-)They’ve now won two whole series this year after taking a pair from Houston.Current pace: 127 losses, with Tigers coming to town.
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