Yankees injuries could benefit Tigers greatly in 2025 playoff race

While the Detroit Tigers' slew of spring injuries – Matt Vierling, Parker Meadows and Alex Cobb, among others — has certainly been detrimental, it pales in comparison to what the New York Yankees have been dealing with about 35 miles west in Tampa.

An injury epidemic has spread rapidly through the Yankees' clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field all spring, punctuated by the most recent news that ace Gerrit Cole will miss the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. But more on that in a minute.

The Yankees were already dealing with injuries to slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who is apparently made of glass and has somehow severely injured both of his elbows with no timetable to return. Given that season-ending surgery has been discussed, the outlook isn't exactly promising.

The Yankees will also likely open the season without DJ LeMahieu, who missed the majority of 2024 due to injury and is currently sidelined with a calf issue. Plus, reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil has been shut down for a minimum of six weeks with a high-grade lat strain.

Yankees injuries could benefit Tigers greatly in 2025 playoff race

The Yankees may have enough depth to mitigate the damage caused by these other injuries, but the injury to Cole is really the granddaddy of them all. It may not even be an exaggeration to say that it alters the landscape of the entire American League.

Without Cole atop of their rotation, the Yankees lose a key advantage over their AL competitors. New York still has Max Fried as its new No. 1 starter; but the Tigers' one-two punch of reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty suddenly gives them a better duo than the Yankees' given how inconsistent Carlos Rodón has been.

With or without injuries, Detroit's batting order still isn't as strong as New York's, but the Tigers now have a critical advantage over one of their biggest competitors in the AL playoff race. If the Tigers can replicate the success they had in the second half of the 2024 season, they can use this advantage to contend with the top dogs in the AL in 2025. And if it comes down to a Wild Card race between these two, there's a good chance the Tigers could possess the edge if the chips fall in their favor throughout the year.

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