2026 Tigers season predictions: Can top-shelf pitching help Detroit take next step?
Detroit News sports writers Bob Wojnowski, John Niyo, Chris McCosky and Tony Paul make their predictions for the Detroit Tigers in 2026: ▶ Bob Wojnowski: The Tigers have posted similar back-to-back seasons ― 87 and 86 wins, advancing one playoff round each time ― and now eye the next step. Scott Harris and AJ Hinch certainly bolstered the pitching with Framber Valdez , Justin Verlander and reliever Kenley Jansen . But they kept the everyday lineup intact, counting on internal improvement from players entering their primes.
It’s a leap of faith, expecting Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter to straighten out their streakiness and cut down on the all-or-nothing swings. There’s no way the Tigers are collapsing and finishing behind the Guardians again in the Central, right? Right.
In a weak division, the Royals might be the primary threat. The Tigers’ rotation should be top five in baseball, and they do still have a guy by the name of Tarik Skubal, for now. They best use their time and their arms wisely.
Pick: 88-74, first in AL Central ▶ John Niyo: The Tigers should be the defending AL Central champs if not for a late-summer meltdown that coincided with Cleveland going on a heater last year. That won’t happen again, though, because Detroit boasts a top-five MLB rotation with the addition of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander. AJ Hinch also will have better bullpen depth to work with, and there’s enough upside and positional versatility in the lineup ― particularly with Colt Keith and the arrival of Kevin McGonigle ― to cover for some obvious regression candidates.
The Tigers also have the benefit of a mediocre division, with the Guardians’ offense still a glaring weakness, the Twins in the midst of another teardown and the White Sox coming off a third straight season of 100-plus losses. Watch out for the Royals, who might have the best lineup in the Central. But the Tigers have invested too much in this roster not to do whatever’s necessary in July to finish the job.