The Detroit Tigers have enough talent to be in the postseason conversation, but if they’re going to turn that into a return to October, the production from two key bats has to sharpen up in the biggest moments.
Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson sit right at the center of that conversation. The Tigers are counting on their internally developed core to drive the next push, and both hitters have areas that need cleaning up if Detroit is going to get back where it wants to be.
Greene has become one of the most dependable hitters on the roster. The former first-round pick has turned that promise into three straight All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award, and his overall 2026 numbers still looked strong: 21 home runs, a .280 average and 75 RBIs. But the trouble came when the Tigers needed a hit with traffic on the bases.
With runners in scoring position, Greene batted .248 and struck out 46 times. In the specific split with runners in scoring position and two outs, he hit .238, drove in 21 runs and fanned 23 times in 63 at-bats.
For a hitter often slotted in the three-to-five range in A.J. Hinch’s lineup, that’s the kind of gap that can stall rallies and leave innings unfinished.
There is a blueprint for improvement, though. In 2024, Greene hit .294 with runners in scoring position, piled up 50 RBIs and posted 37 strikeouts to 11 walks in 119 at-bats. If he wants to keep growing into the Tigers’ best hitter, that version has to show up again.
Torkelson’s case is a little different. Tigers fans have seen the big moments, and they’ve also seen the repeated issue with two outs already in the inning. He hit .303 with runners in scoring position, but his average dropped to .202 with two outs, no matter who was on base.
The former first overall pick struck out 71 times with two outs and 44 times with runners in scoring position in 2026. Overall with men on base, he hit .239, struck out 84 times and hit 14 home runs.
Scott Harris sees Torkelson as an important part of the push back to the playoffs in 2027. He also gave the first baseman credit for becoming a more reliable power threat, with Torkelson surpassing 25 home runs or more three times in the last six years. Even so, the next step is clear: he has to put the ball in play more with two outs and give Detroit a better chance to cash in.
For the Tigers, the cleanest path forward may be simple. Greene and Torkelson need to get hot at the same time. That hasn’t happened all that often since they joined forces in Detroit, and until it does, the Tigers will keep leaving too much on the table.
In Other News...
Tigers Have A New First Base Debate Fans Didn't See Coming
Beau Ankeney has put himself on the map in a hurry, and that matters for a Tigers organization always looking for more young bats to follow. The 23-year-old first baseman, drafted by Detroit in 2025, shook off a slow start and turned his 2026 season into a breakout, producing loud offensive numbers in the minors while moving from Single-A to High-A.
The power is the part that gets attention first, with 24 home runs helping push his prospect stock upward inside the organization. For a club that has spent plenty of time searching for long-term answers on the right side of the infield, Ankeneys rise has created a new conversation around first base, even if the real decision on his future still has some runway left. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers May Finally Face A Trade Call Scott Harris Usually Avoids
The Marlins being open to offers for Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards adds another layer to a market the Tigers could actually navigate from a position of strength. Detroit has built up infield depth and has the prospect capital to chase help if it wants to, which is why this kind of name starts to matter when a club is looking for ways to fit its roster together without creating holes elsewhere.
Under Scott Harris, the Tigers have generally steered clear of moving top prospects, so any serious swing at a player like Edwards would say plenty about how far this front office is willing to bend for the right fit. There is no trade on the table yet and no decision announced, but this is the sort of redundancy-driven conversation that can force a team to weigh long-term caution against the chance to improve the roster now. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have Another Chance To Fix An Outfield Miss
The Tigers have spent plenty of time looking for useful outfield depth, and Alek Thomas could surface as another name worth monitoring. The former Diamondbacks outfielder was traded to the Dodgers in May, then recently elected free agency, which has reopened the door for a club like Detroit to take a close look at a minor league deal. For a team that has shown a willingness to churn the edges of the roster, a glove-first outfielder with major league experience is at least the kind of profile that fits the conversation.
Thomas is still known for his defense, and that matters for a Tigers organization that tends to value versatility and run prevention when it is filling out the margins of the roster. The appeal is not hard to see: low-risk depth, a potential defensive upgrade, and a player who could fit into Detroits broader approach if the bat can follow even a little. Whether the Tigers actually move on him is still unclear, but he is the sort of under-the-radar option that could make sense if they want another layer of insurance in the outfield. [Read more 🡒]