Riley Greene put together the kind of Sunday that can carry a lineup all by itself, and the Tigers needed every bit of it in a 6-3 win over the Rangers.
A day after being named an All-Star again, Greene delivered a three-hit game that checked just about every box. He launched a two-run homer in the fourth to flip the lead Detroit’s way, then followed with a two-run triple in the fifth to keep the pressure on. He finished one double short of the cycle, and the Rangers chose not to test him in the ninth, putting him on intentionally.
The offensive burst fit the version of Greene the Tigers have been getting more consistently this season. The strikeouts are still there, just not at the same level as last year, but the bigger change has been the way he’s working at the plate.
He’s chasing fewer bad pitches, showing more discipline in two-strike counts, and handling early-count trouble better. His power numbers - 13 homers and 44 RBIs - are down from a year ago, but his OPS has climbed to .853 after sitting at .806 in 2025.
He also turned in one of the best defensive plays of his career, a diving catch with a huge stretch to take extra bases away from Brandon Nimmo in the third inning. Casey Mize had to like that, along with the rest of the defense behind him, including a diving stop from shortstop Kevin McGonigle.
Greene’s All-Star nod is his third straight, something no Tiger had done since Miguel Cabrera. He’s also the first Tigers outfielder to do it since Al Kaline, and he’s still only 25.
Detroit’s All-Star trio of Greene, McGonigle and Dillon Dingler combined for six of the team’s 10 hits, and the Tigers again got to Rangers starter Kumar Rocker. Against Detroit this season, Rocker has an 11.37 ERA in two starts; against everyone else, it’s 3.34 in 15 starts.
Mize kept the game in control with 6⅔ efficient innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. It wasn’t his sharpest outing, but it was another strong one in a season that has him looking every bit like the 1-1 pick he was in 2018.
His numbers keep making the case. Mize owns a 2.64 ERA and a sub-.250 FIP, and he’s one of only two AL starters with an ERA under 2.70 and a FIP under .250.
The other is Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler, who might start the All-Star Game for the American League. Mize was left off the roster Saturday, though that may not be the final word.
With the usual All-Star roster movement that happens before July 14 in Philadelphia, especially among pitchers, he could still wind up making it for a second straight year.
Detroit’s win also capped a road trip in which the Tigers took five of six and moved to 40-50, still 10 games under .500.
Here’s how the game’s top performers stacked up:
Three stars (Season total in parentheses)
▶ Kevin McGonigle (26) - With two hits and a walk, he had his 52nd game reaching base multiple times, most in a season for a rookie before the All-Star break since the Yankees' Aaron Judge did it 52 times in 2017.
▶ Kenley Jansen (2) - His first save since June 20 and his first 1-2-3 inning since June 19.
▶ Casey Mize (2)
Player of the game (Season total in parentheses)
▶ Riley Greene (6)
The Tigers are 5-4 on national TV this season, with Sunday’s win over the Rangers adding another entry to that list.
Traditional home whites: 17-18
Alternate home oranges: 5-1
Motor City Connect home blues: 1-2
Traditional road grays: 12-21
Alternate road blues: 5-8
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