The Detroit Tigers head into the final series before the All-Star break riding a wave of momentum, and Friday’s opener against the Philadelphia Phillies gives them a chance to keep it rolling.
Detroit wrapped up a sweep of the Athletics with a 4-1 win on Thursday night, its sixth victory in seven games this month. Jake Rogers went deep again, Eduardo Valencia launched a homer in his first MLB plate appearance, and Framber Valdez set the tone with seven strong innings of one-run ball.
Now the Tigers turn to Jack Flaherty, who has quietly steadied the rotation since the start of June. The right-hander has put together a 2.50 ERA and a 1.73 FIP over his last five starts, covering 18 innings. The one thing that still hasn’t changed: he keeps falling just short of getting through six full frames.
Philadelphia counters with Aaron Nola, who has been working through another difficult season, though his numbers have improved a bit since the start of June. Over seven games and 35 1/3 innings in that stretch, the 33-year-old has posted a 6.11 ERA and 5.30 FIP.
Nola did show something closer to his best form in his last outing against the Kansas City Royals. He allowed three runs on seven hits, didn’t issue a walk and struck out seven over seven innings, but still took the loss in a 5-2 game at Kaufman Stadium. That start also snapped a four-game run in which he had given up a home run in each outing, including two in each of the previous four games.
Friday sets up as a right-hander versus right-hander matchup, with Flaherty and Nola meeting as the Tigers open their last series before the Midsummer Classic.
In Other News...
Tigers First Round Track Record Looks Very Different Than Fans Think
The Tigers first-round draft story has not followed the tidy script many fans might assume when they hear about a wave of premium picks. A look back from 2022 through 2025 shows a front office that has mixed upside, patience and a few uncomfortable questions, with Jordan Yost, Bryce Rainer, Max Clark and Jace Jung all sitting at very different points on the development curve. Some are still climbing through the minors, some have already reached the majors, and the overall picture is less about one clean success story than a collection of separate bets still being sorted out.
Jordan Yost, the clubs 2025 first-rounder, is already drawing a C+ grade and leaving observers to wonder what Detroit sees in him. Clark remains in Triple-A, where the Tigers want him to keep developing while also preserving his PPI eligibility for 2027, even as the big-league temptation grows louder. And with the 2026 MLB Draft approaching, Detroit will have four picks after forfeiting its third-round selection by signing Framber Valdez, a reminder that the pipeline is still being shaped not just by who the Tigers choose, but by the roster decisions that come before the draft board ever turns. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Just Took Another Bullpen Flier Fans Will Want To Track
The Tigers added another arm to the bullpen mix by claiming right-hander Andre Granillo off waivers from the Nationals and sending him to Triple-A. It is the sort of low-risk move Detroit has made plenty of times as it keeps searching for usable pitching depth, and Granillo brings a little more intrigue than the usual waiver pickup because he has already reached the majors this season and now occupies a spot on the 40-man roster.
Granillo also arrives with some real pedigree, having once been considered a notable Cardinals prospect before St. Louis moved him to Washington earlier this year. The immediate assignment to Triple-A suggests the Tigers want to see more before giving him a longer look, but his track record and the fact that he has already opened this season in the big leagues make him one of those names worth following if Detroit needs another bullpen option later on. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Are Rolling And This Phillies Win Changed The Feeling Fast
The Tigers wasted no time turning a tight game into a loud one Friday night at Comerica Park, burying the Phillies 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series. Detroits offense broke through in a big sixth inning, then kept stacking on runs in the seventh, with Eduardo Valencia, Zach McKinstry, James Outman, Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson all part of the surge that changed the tone fast.
Jack Flaherty helped set the stage by giving Detroit six innings and allowing two runs, giving the club another steady start to lean on as the lineup came alive behind him. The bigger question now is whether this was just one of those nights where everything clicked, or another sign that the Tigers are starting to look a lot more dangerous when a game gets into the middle innings. [Read more 🡒]