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Fearless Tigers surging like 2003 Marlins in wild-card push
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Fearless Tigers surging like 2003 Marlins in wild-card push

By Colin Cerniglia  |  Last updated Sep 23, 2024 12:37 PM ET

The Detroit Tigers (82-74) weren’t supposed to be here. But with a week left in the regular season, they’ve become baseball’s most dangerous underdog.

Tied for the second AL wild-card spot with the Royals, Detroit is surging at just the right time — echoing the improbable 2003 Marlins, who turned a September hot streak into a World Series title. 

Now, these Tigers are playing with the same fearless energy, and they’ve got the talent to prove their run isn’t a fluke.

Entering Monday, FanGraphs gives Detroit the best odds among AL Central teams to clinch a wild-card berth, putting their chances at 70.8%, ahead of Kansas City (68.5%) and Minnesota (53.8%).

Like the 2003 Marlins, who had an average lineup age of 26.9, these Tigers are incredibly young. On Sunday, Detroit fielded a starting lineup with an average age of 24.6 years. 

The lack of veteran experience, which can be a disadvantage for many teams, has instead become a strength. They’re too young to feel the weight of a postseason chase, too naive to know they’re not supposed to be this good.

“We just kept winning games,” right fielder Kerry Carpenter told MLB.com's Jason Beck after Sunday’s win. “So that's what we'll keep doing now. Not going to grasp at anything or chase anything. We're just going to go out there and play like we can play. When we do that, we play well. We have a bunch of guys here that can play baseball and win games in the big leagues, so it's fun.”

Leading the charge for Detroit is ace Tarik Skubal, whose dominance this season has put him in the conversation for the Cy Young Award. Skubal’s latest outing — a five-inning, seven-strikeout gem — pushed his record to 17-4 while lowering his AL-leading ERA to 2.48.

With Skubal on the mound, the Tigers have a legitimate ace, the type of dominant arm that makes a deep playoff run possible. Just as Josh Beckett carried the 2003 Marlins — he was named the World Series MVP — Skubal could very well be the key to the Tigers’ postseason hopes.

Then there’s Parker Meadows and Riley Greene, two young outfielders who have been revelations for Detroit. Greene, playing in 131 games this season, made his first All-Star team and leads all Tigers position players with a 5.2 WAR. 

Meadows, on the other hand, has delivered game-changing plays like his stunning home-run robbery against Baltimore. His leaping catch in the fifth inning on Sunday preserved a 3-3 tie and shifted the game’s momentum. 

Just two pitches later, Carpenter blasted his second home run of the day, giving the Tigers the lead and proving this team can handle high-pressure moments.

Manager A.J. Hinch has been a key figure in the Tigers’ resurgence, earning comparisons to Jack McKeon, the veteran manager who took over the 2003 Marlins midseason and led them to a championship. Hinch is a player's manager who knows how to get the most out of his squad. 

“I love this team,” Hinch told USA Today's Gabe Lacques. “I love what we’re doing to fight every game like it’s the last game of the season. That’s how we’ve operated and that’s how we’re going to continue to operate.”

Hinch’s psychology background and experience managing through pressure have helped this young team stay grounded. After his role in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal, he’s using this opportunity in Detroit to rewrite his legacy, much like McKeon did with his Cinderella run.

The Tigers are poised for a run, fueled by one of the youngest rosters in baseball and an undeniable swagger. Skubal, Carpenter and Meadows are ready for the big stage, guided by Hinch's steady leadership. 

This October, they’re not just chasing a postseason spot — they’re determined to prove they belong. So far, they’ve done just that.

Colin Cerniglia
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Colin Cerniglia is an Amazon bestselling author, co-host of the "2 Jocks and a Schlub" podcast from Blue Wire, and a contributor to The Charlotte Observer. With a deep passion for baseball and college football, he offers extensive knowledge and enthusiasm to his writing. Colin resides in Charlotte, NC, with his wife and two daughters

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