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The Detroit Tigers have maintained the best record in baseball despite the adversity of dealing with injuries and the overall roller coaster of performance that the Major League Baseball season brings.
This is a team that looks like it has the makings of a potential threat in the American League and even a World Series contender. However there is a glaring weakness that they need to improve both internally and externally.
Numbers wise, the Tigers bullpen has actually been strong this season.
Looking past the initial numbers though, the current status of the unit is being padded a bit by what was a very strong first month.
As of late, the bullpen looks way more so in need of help at the deadline than it did at the beginning of the season, and one of its most important options has simply not been himself over the last month.
Tyler Holton is Struggling To Find Quality Outings For Detroit
Entering the final week of April, 28-year-old left-hander Tyler Holton had an ERA of 1.54 and had given up a total of just three runs in his first 10 appearances of the season (nearly 12 innings).
Over the last 30 days and nine appearances, Holton has an ERA of 6.75 and a WHIP which has climbed to 1.82. His overall season marks in the same categories are 3.86 and 1.286 respectively, far from a disaster but they are also numbers that don't tell the full story.
After allowing just one home run during that dominant first half, Holton has allowed three during this period along with 13 hits and seven earned runs.
Holton is one of the key pieces of the bullpen and if he's off, the unit as a whole is off.
The Tigers are likely to make some additions this summer assuming they are still well within contention, but there is going to be nothing more important down the stretch than established stars already on the team performing like it.
If Holton cannot get it together, it dramatically lowers the ceiling of what this bullpen is capable of being, and a great bullpen is always going to be key to a postseason run.
It's time for the previously reliable lefty to go back to the drawing board, figure out what has gone wrong as of late, and get back to his previous All-Star form.
More must-reads:
- Surprising Marlins earn MLB first in sweep of Yankees
- Brewers place All-Star righty Jacob Misiorowski on 15-day injured list
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
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Yankees receive positive Aaron Judge update
The New York Yankees have recently been slumping, but they may be getting a boost soon. Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge took batting practice Sunday at the team's minor league complex in Tampa Bay, via Erik Boland of Newsday. The 33-year-old slugger is now expected to return to New York's lineup in Tuesday's road game against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees placed Judge on the 10-day injured list on July 27 because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. He suffered the injury during a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on July 22 when throwing a ball from the outfield. New York manager Aaron Boone indicated the injury isn't a long-term concern, but they'll start Judge at designated hitter as a precaution. "No acute injury to the UCL. Overall, that's the good news," the manager said July 27, via MLB.com's Bill Ladson. "With those first few days coming off the IL, it's probably DH mode. Then he'll start throwing ... and hopefully, get back to the outfield shortly thereafter." Still, that's better than no Judge, especially for a team that's losing ground in the American League East race. Entering Sunday, New York (60-51) was third in the division behind the Boston Red Sox (62-51) and the Blue Jays (65-47). The Yankees had also dropped six of their past 10 games, including a shocking 13-12 home loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday. Judge was producing stellar numbers before the injury. In 377 at-bats in 103 games, the two-time AL MVP slashed .342/.449/.711 with 37 home runs. Judge returning at full power would help the Yankees rediscover their groove in the second half of the season.
Matt LaFleur sheds light on concerning Tucker Kraft situation
The Green Bay Packers continued work on the field on Saturday, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance watching amid the annual Family Night. However, one notable player who was not able to make it to the field and practice was tight end Tucker Kraft. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbits star is nursing a lower-body injury, forcing the Packers to take it easy on the tight end and keep him on the shelf rather than risk aggravation of the issue. Speaking to the media, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about Kraft’s status, via Green Bay reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “MLF said Tucker Kraft has been dealing with a groin injury and powering through it for the last two days but they decided to give him a couple days off.” Kraft is expected to be among the major targets in the Packers’ passing attack in his third year in the pros. Selected in the third round (78th overall) by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft, the 24-year-old Kraft is looking to surpass his production in 2024, when he posted 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
'Superman' VOD Home Streaming Date Confirmed and It's Shockingly Soon
In a move that seems faster than a speeding bullet, the new 2025 Superman movie will be available to watch at home just over a month after it hit theaters on July 11. According to multiple outlets, including World of Reel, the new Superman reboot movie will be available for video-on-demand (VOD) purchase starting very soon. In fact, the movie will almost certainly still be in theaters when you can watch it at home. Superman Streaming/VOD release date DC Studios' Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, will be available for purchase digitally starting on August 15, 2025. This means that just over 30 days after its first theatrical release, the new Superman is coming home. To be clear, this is not the same as streaming on HBO Max, but it does mean you'll be able to pony up a certain amount of money (close to the price of two movie tickets) to watch the movie at home. Purchase of VOD movies generally happens on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. DC vs. Marvel VOD releases If this home video release seems quick, it is. For comparison, the last two Marvel superhero movies had nearly two months, not one, between theatrical release and VOD release. Thunderbolts* hit theaters on May 2, and was on VOD on July 1. Meanwhile, Captain America: Brave New World was in theaters on February 14, and on VOD on April 15. Both of those films were deemed, in the eyes of box office pundits, to be failures, while Superman is generally considered to be a success.
Dan Quinn says these three newcomers on the Commanders' defense have impressed him the most in training camp practices
The Washington Commanders went to work this offseason to help build up the defensive side of the ball, and Adam Peters chose the guys he wanted, even if they weren't the most popular signings. Dan Quinn knows defense, and it's always good news when you get named dropped by the head coach. Quinn was asked by Mike Golic Jr. on Bleacher Report's B/R Gridiron stream who has impressed him the most when it comes to the newest additions, and he went straight to the defense to give credit to three guys specifically. Hearing this kind of update from Quinn should ease fans' opinions of these three signings, especially at positions that needed an upgrade the most. Javon Kinlaw The Commanders' run defense finished 3rd worst in the league in yards given up on the ground, and Javon Kinlaw was brought in to bring size and energy on the line. Kinlaw came to Washington and went straight to work to lean up after playing bigger in the New York Jets' scheme. He is still a mammoth of a man when you see him in practice, but he looks fast and strong. Quinn has mentioned it before practice in his press conferences, but the trenches can't show everything they want to until the pads come on. Kinlaw wasted no time in letting the offensive line feel his presence, and he made a handful of plays breaking into the backfield to stop the run or put pressure on the quarterback. I think fans will love the energy Kinlaw brings on the defensive line and see that Peters made a great decision bringing in Kinlaw and letting him play more freely at a size he's comfortable with. Deatrich Wise Speaking of the defensive line, the Commanders needed to add someone on the edge who can stop the run and also get to the quarterback. Wise has been a consistent veteran in the league, and he's going to bring strength and length off the edge to win his reps. I've been saying for a while that Wise will be one of the unsung heroes of the defense this year, and clean up the dirty work that may not be noticeable. His ability to stop the run will be a big improvement compared to what the Commanders had with Dante Fowler Jr, and Wise will still get to the quarterback and produce as well. He made one of my favorite plays at practice on Saturday when the offense was working red zone drills, and Wise saw something on the play presnap and pointed it out. He then found his way in the backfield and stopped RB Brian Robinson Jr. in the backfield, who was headed to the opposite side of Wise. Will Harris The Commanders needed to replace Jeremy Chinn, who went to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, and versatile defensive back Will Harris was the answer. Harris was the one player that I went into camp with no idea what to expect, and was my biggest unknown. I liked what I saw in his coverage ability back at safety, and I think that's where he brings improvements to the secondary. Quinn has talked about his versatility, and I've seen Harris back at strong safety in team drills and even down in the slot at corner when they run an extra DB in dime packages. Washington's secondary finally has stability and depth for the first time, and Harris looks to fit in smoothly, primarily at safety with Quan Martin. Jayden Daniels and the offense need the defense to step up and be much improved from last season, and the Commanders can do that if they get the most out of the newest additions Kinlaw, Wise, and Harris. So far, they're making a strong impression on Coach Quinn, and we will see more as preseason starts this week.
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