How the Tigers Made the 2025 MLB Postseason

Much like in 2024, it was not an easy road to the MLB Postseason for the Tigers in 2025. However, Detroit made it. Just like last year, the Tigers are the #6 seed heading into the playoffs — although how the team got there couldn’t have been any different compared to 12 months earlier.

Amassing wins made a difference

If last year was any indication, a month can make a difference in MLB, particularly in September.

Last year, the Tigers were five games out of a playoff spot heading into the final month. But thanks to a 16-8 run and a late-season falter by the Twins, Detroit snuck in after selling at the deadline. This year, nearly exactly the opposite occurred. Detroit entered September with the best record (80-59) but won just seven games in the month, ending with an 87-75 record.

September was not a good month for the Tigers’ rotation. Detroit starters amassed a 4.84 ERA, good for the bottom six of the league. Unfortunately for Detroit, their bullpen couldn’t pick up the slack, as Will Vest, Chris Paddack — acquired at the deadline as a starter — and Paul Sewald all had problems.

Glossing over that deadline for a second, several of their moves did not work out. Paddack, as noted, was moved to the bullpen after he was acquired to fill out their rotation with Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe injured. Charlie Morton, acquired from the O’s, gave up 13 walks and 17 earned runs in September. Morton was DFA’d in late September.

What saved the Tigers was getting a couple of big wins late in the final week, one in Cleveland and one in Boston, to secure a spot. However, let’s turn the clock back a little bit to when the Tigers were at their hottest.

The Tigers had six All-Stars, four hitters, and two pitchers. Among those included is Riley Greene, who smacked 36 home runs in total this season but struck a ton with his chase-happy tendency.

As for other big-time contributors, 2024 playoff hero Kerry Carpenter hit 26 home runs in a platoon role, while Gleyber Torres amassed 38 extra-base hits for the Tigers this season.

The bullpen, meanwhile, was amalgamated by a troupe of pitchers who give teams very different looks. Between Tyler Holton‘s six-pitch mix, Brant Hurter‘s heavy sinker, Thomas Kahnle’s changeup, and Kyle Finnegan‘s hard fastball/split combo, the Tigers’ bullpen, overall, was very good in 2025.

In fact, that was a big focus for the Tigers at the deadline, as Finnegan, Rafael Montero, and Paul Sewald were all acquired in July.

Rebound years from key players

Three other players who made a major difference for Detroit in 2025 were Casey Mize, Spencer Torkelson, and Javier Baez.

Mize, one of those many All-Stars, didn’t have a fantastic second half. However, the 28-year-old, overall, missed more bats this season. Mize struck out 139 over 149 this season. In the first half, he posted a stellar 3.15 ERA.

Torkelson, the Tigers’ top pick in 2020, didn’t have a set role heading into the spring. The Tigers had planned to have Colt Keith play first with Gleyber Torres. But Torkelson had a strong spring and parlayed that into a strong regular season. Torkelson hit 31 home runs, tying his career-best from 2023.

The 26-year-old tweaked his approach in the box, opting to get down and move to a more athletic swing. Torkelson’s batted-ball metrics were on par with his 2023 numbers.