Isaac Paredes first career home run is a grand slam (Video)

A Tigers top prospect’s first career home run gave them a lead against Cleveland

While he’s not Casey Mize or Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers infielder Isaac Paredes was just one of the three top-rated prospects Alex Avila had slated to make their debuts this week. Such decisions haven’t necessarily helped the team in the win-loss column, as the Tigers have lost a staggering nine straight games to fall not just below .500, but into last place in the AL Central. Suddenly, Detroit looks more like the cellar dwellers we expected coming into MLB’s shortened 2020 season.

Paredes, along with the likes of Mize and Skubal, symbolize hopes of a greater tomorrow.  He gave Tigers fans another reason to cheer on Friday night, putting the team ahead of the Cleveland Indians in grand fashion.

Can the Tigers finally beat Cleveland?

The Tigers have lost 20 straight games to the Indians, if you can believe it. Despite being in the same division as Cleveland, the Tigers have been so bad that they haven’t been able to steal a single game from an Indians team whose spent the majority of the last half-decade beating up on the rebuilding kittens from MoTown.

Should the Tigers like to get back in the win column, they’ll have to avoid consecutive losses No. 21,22 and 23 against the Indians, a feat that would pull the proverbial monkey off of Ron Gardenhire’s back, for now. It can also allow the Tigers to regain their focus on what the 2020 season should actually be about — making incremental improvements and building around their top prospects, who are now in a position to get real MLB service time.