MLB Rumors: SF Giants-Shohei Ohtani link, Paul Skenes debut, Tigers confidence
By Mark Powell
MLB Rumors: Spencer Torkelson thinks the Tigers can make the playoffs
It’s been a developmental year for Spencer Torkelson, who has 19 home runs to go with his .225 batting average and .710 OPS, which is slightly below league average. Tork and the Tigers defeated the division-leading Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. Despite being eight games back in the mediocre AL Central, Torkelson is confident this Detroit team can go on a run.
“We feel like we’re not out of it. We’re still in the fight, and we’re going to stay in the fight until we’re not. That’s a good team, and the Guardians are a good team. But we’re going to keep pushing,” Torkelson said, per the Detroit Free-Press.
While we love Torkelson’s confidence — and Tigers fans should as well — I have to respectfully disagree with his assessment. Per FanGraphs, Detroit has under a two percent chance at making the postseason. In fact, their only realistic route is through the AL Central division crown, where they are in third place behind both Minnesota and the Cleveland Guardians.
A.J. Hinch backed Torkelson, insisting that his team’s recent struggles are not an indication of their final product.
“One good night can all of a sudden get you back on track,” Hinch said. “It has been a little rough. His first couple of at-bats weren’t great, but he’s got the mentality to flush that between at-bats and get to the next one. … That’s why you hang with guys, just hang with them mentally, because if they hang with themselves mentally, they can come out of it very quickly.”
Perhaps Hinch and Tork know something the general public does not, because these eyes perceive Minnesota running away with the Central.