3 Tigers hitters who could spur special playoff run with offensive awakening

The Detroit Tigers' offense through their first four postseason games has, in a way, been a microcosm of their regular season – a motley crew of unlikely heroes fueling the team's success.

Justyn-Henry Malloy, who made his MLB debut this year and hasn't even played a full Major League season, is raking in the playoffs with a .667 batting average. Notoriously inconsistent utility man Zach McKinstry is batting .400, while Andy Ibáñez is hitting .333 off the bench. Even catcher Jake Rogers (.308) and rookie outfielder Wenceel Perez (.300) have been major contributors on offense during Detroit's playoff run.

And yet, there are still a few members of Detroit's batting lineup who were integral to their second-half surge during the regular season but have left much to be desired during the playoffs. If they manage to turn things around, things could start feeling really special.

3 Tigers hitters who could spur memorable run with offensive awakening

Colt Keith

Second baseman Colt Keith, who slashed .260/.309/.380 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 148 games during his rookie season in 2024, is hitless so far. He is 0-for-9 with five walks and three strikeouts through four postseason games. Despite his struggles at the plate, however, he has still found ways to get on base with those free passes. Still, if Keith doesn't start hitting soon, it's possible that Ibáñez could get more starts at second base for the Tigers in October.

Riley Greene

Left fielder Riley Greene was Detroit's Mr. Clutch down the final stretch of the regular season, hitting .278 with five home runs and 18 RBI during the month of September. However, he hasn't scored a run or registered an RBI in the team's first four October games. In 18 plate appearances, Greene is hitting just .133 with two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. During the playoffs, he certainly hasn't looked like the Tigers' All-Star who hit .262 over more than 500 at-bats during the regular season, and the Tigers hope that will change soon.

Spencer Torkelson

Finally, we have Spencer Torkelson, the last of the invisible Tiger during the 2024 playoffs. The former No. 1 overall pick was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in June for the second time in three MLB seasons amidst his continued struggles at the plate. But he appeared to have put those struggles behind him when he returned to the Tigers in August and hit .300 that month to help fuel their remarkable late-season run to the No. 6 seed. In the playoffs, however, he has looked much like the Torkelson of old and is hitless in 12 at-bats with seven strikeouts and three walks.

On one hand, it's impressive that the Tigers have tied the ALDS with Cleveland without hitting from these three young bats. On the other hand, the series may very well take an ugly turn if they don't start producing soon.

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