Riley Greene Blasts 2 Opposite Field Home Runs

The Detroit Tigers have had a power surge as of late, most notably with Outfielder Riley Greene. On Saturday, he mashed a double and a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles. He then followed that up on Monday night with a two-home run game against the Houston Astros. After a strong opening week and a mediocre run, it seems Greene is back to seeing the ball well.

Greene’s Power Surge

Greene’s night against the Astros at Daikin Park, although ending in a Tiger’s loss 8-5, was a step in the right direction for the All-Star caliber outfielder. After an 0-of-4, two-strikeout game on Sunday at home in Detroit against the Orioles, he needed a pick me up. Greene has had solid numbers at Daikin (formerly Minute Maid Park), so this series was something to look forward to, and he delivered. 

In the top of the 4th inning, with the Tigers already up 2-0 from a Kerry Carpenter home run earlier in the game, Greene walloped a 0-1 four-seam fastball from Astros Pitcher Ronel Blanco. The opposite-field blast, landing in the Crawford Boxes in left field, was his 5th big fly of the year. The solo blast raised the Tigers’ lead to 3-0. 

The Astros clawed their way back, and by the time Greene stepped up to the plate in the 8th, they were up 8-3. The deficit didn’t bother him, however, as he deposited his 6th home run into the Crawford Boxes, this time a two-run home run, bringing the Tigers to within three, down 8-5. Greene let another four-seam fastball travel, this time from Kaleb Ort, and by the time it landed, he was already circling the bases. 

The Tigers

After a miraculous final stretch in 2024 that found them in the playoffs, sweeping the Astros in the Wild Card round, and giving the Cleveland Guardians a run for their money, the Tigers are poised to keep that momentum going in 2025. They are currently in 1st place in the American League Central at a respectable 18-12, a game and a half ahead of the Guardians. They have been dominant at home, posting a 13-3 record, while struggling a bit on the road at 5-9. 

If Greene and Carpenter can keep hitting the ball all over the field, and aces Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty can keep spinning it, the Tigers have a great chance to repeat their 2024 success and make another deep run in the playoffs.