Predicting the Detroit Tigers 2024 season using MLB The Show

What will the Detroit Tigers do this season? I have been very critical thus far, but now, it is time. It is time for the greatest day of the year, Opening Day. It is time to put all of the talks behind us and see what the team truly has to offer. As the world becomes mesmerized and terrified with AI, I decided that is the only thing that can truly tell us what the Detroit Tigers will do this year. MLB The Show is the most popular MLB video game, and I simulated a season to see what would happen.

Firstly, it is important to know I was not in control of the Tigers in this simulation, so they were free to do whatever they wished. The season did not start the way they wanted, as they finished the month of April 14-16 and May 25-32. It was already going South, but there was plenty of time for things to turn around and play out the right way. Well, it didn't work. At the All-Star Break, the team was stuck at 45-52 (.461), 10 games behind the division-leading Minnesota Twins (who led the division almost the entire year). This was good for fourth place in front of only the Chicago White Sox.

The Detroit Tigers only had one All-Star. Former first-overall pick Spencer Torkelson was the lone representative. At the break, Torkelson was slashing .272/.328/.477 with 14 home runs. Nobody from the Tigers was in the Home Run Derby. Torkelson would not play in the All-Star Game. Replicating his breakout season in 2023 looks a bit tougher to accomplish with this.

The Detroit Tigers struggled the entire season in this MLB The Show simulation.

The Tigers were dead silent at the trade deadline, neither buying nor selling rentals. By the end of August, the Tigers were 60-77, and at season's end they finished 73-89 (.451). This was not impressive. Another 4th place finish for the squad, ahead of only the White Sox, and 21.0 games behind the division-winning Minnesota Twins.

The hitters of note... begin with Torkelson, who finished hitting .262 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI, another step in the right direction for the young first baseman. Riley Greene hit .270 with six home runs and 38 RBI, playing in only 102 games, showing his health is still a concern. The walking train wreck of Javier Baez hit .262 but had only seven home runs, which is far better than hitting under .220 again, but it is still really disappointing in the power department. Youngster Colt Keith hit .243 with 25 home runs, an impressive rookie campaign, but not impressive enough for a Rookie of the Year award.

The pitchers kind of went as expected. Tarik Skubal had a 3.06 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and finished in the top eight in the American League in ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched. Newcomers Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda posted a 4.52 and 4.32 ERA, respectively, showing that these signings just didn't work the way Scott Harris wanted. Reese Olson continued his success with a 3.34 ERA, and Casey Mize had a nice comeback season with a 3.19 ERA in 96 IP. Andrew Chafin was the main closer, finishing with 27 saves, Jason Foley logged 17, and Alex Lange had just two saves. Chafin thrived with a 1.13 ERA, and successful reliever Will Vest struggled with a 5.67 ERA.

Overall, another rough year fell upon the Detroit Tigers. I hope this is wrong, but I feel that it is right. Time will tell, and it all starts today! Play Ball!