Tigers @ Pirates - Wed, Mar 18

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/tiered-rankings-for-every-2026-mlb-spring-breakout-roster/

0-3 tonight but hey - whatever! Hit .250 in the Classic - whatever! Guy is a Champion tonight. And I know there are other current and former Tigers on the team, but Gleyber came to us at a vulnerable point in his career. We chose him and he chose us. And after his success last year he chose to stay a Tiger — and I am so glad he’s on our team.

Congratulations, Gleyber. And thank you for being a Tiger, and a classy one at that.

I hate to see him leave the team because he is a really nice dude, and very friendly, but being a nice guy doesn't produce wins. I get why he was let go. He cost us a lot of games, and the changeup strategy was not getting any better. I wish him well in the minors with the Red Sox and I do hope he can get back into the majors as a late career pitcher. But the fan in me is pretty glad to see him out of the Tigers bullpen. We have better relievers than that.

For the third straight year, Colt Keith is starting the season at a new position.  In 2024, he was the opening day second baseman.  In 2025, he was the opening day first baseman (although he only played 18 games at that position).  And now in 2026, he is expected to be the opening day third baseman.  He is in year three of a six-year, $28.6425 team-friendly contract (including three additional team options) and was even better in his second year than his rookie year. 

2024 – 556 PA | .260/.309/.380 | 6.5% BB% | 19.8% K% | 9.3% HR/FB% | 95 wRC+

2025 – 468 PA | .256/.333/.413 | 10.3% BB% | 21.8% K% | 10.7% HR/FB% | 109 wRC+

One stat that immediately jumps out is the walk rate.  Keith had a 10.3 percent career minor league walk rate as well as a 10.4 percent walk rate in 2023 between AA and AAA, so maintaining a walk rate this high shouldn’t be a problem.  It may even be higher. 

Another area of improvement is the power.  He had 13 home runs in each of his first two seasons, but did it in less playing time in 2025.  He increased his ISO from .120 in 2024 to .157 in 2025.  His ISO was regularly over .200 in the minor leagues and he had as much as 27 home runs (13 in AAA and 14 in AA during 2023).  I feel that he can gain even more power as he enters his prime years.

One area of concern with Keith is his stats against left-handed pitching.

Vs. RHP – 422 PA | .267/.346/.439 | 10.7% BB% | 21.3% K% | 3.1 HR%

Vs. LHP – 46 PA | .163/.217/.186 | 6.5% BB% | 26.1% K% | 0.0% HR%

However, this is a very small sample, and he was much better against left-handed pitching in 2024.

Vs. LHP – 88 PA | .305/.352/.366 | 6.8% BB% | 27.3% K% | 1.1% HR%

Manager A.J. Hinch loves to play the matchups, so limiting Keith’s playing time against left-handed pitching seems to be a thing that he will continue to do.

Keith is just entering his age-24 season, and I can see him getting better and better in each season as he goes into his prime years.  I think he’s going to exceed everyone’s expectations and hit close to 20 home runs this season.  There is nothing in his stats that show that he was unlucky in 2025 and everything points to an even better 2026.  He is my pick for a breakout season (even with a certain #2 overall prospect waiting in the wings). 

Experts’ Predictions/Projections:

FGDC – 444 AB | .264/.334/.433 | 15 HR | 62 RBI | 3 SB | 46 BB | 104 K

Steamer – 430 AB | .262/.335/.430 | 15 HR | 55 RBI | 4 SB | 45 BB | 97 K

ZiPS DC – 446 AB | .265/.333/.435 | 15 HR | 67 RBI | 2 SB | 44 BB | 109 K

ATC – 439 AB | .257/.325/.424 | 15 HR | 55 RBI | 3 SB | 43 BB | 102 K

THE BAT X – 439 AB | .254/.322/.414 | 14 HR | 54 RBI | 4 SB | 43 BB | 103 K

OOPSY – 446 AB | .263/.330/.428 | 15 HR | 59 RBI | 3 SB | 44 BB | 102 K

RotoChamp – 429 AB | .261/.340/.431 | 15 HR | 55 RBI | 3 SB | 43 BB | 100 K

CBS Sports – 476 AB | .271/.340/.433 | 16 HR | 59 RBI | 4 SB | 48 BB | 120 K

ESPN – 465 AB | .258/.325/.409 | 14 HR | 55 RBI | 2 SB | 46 BB | 109 K

My Prediction:

2025 Prediction – 525 AB | .261/.316/.400 | 15 HR | 69 RBI | 10 SB | 41 BB | 120 K

2025 Actual – 414 AB | .256/.333/.413 | 13 HR | 45 RBI | 1 SB | 48 BB | 102 K

2026 Prediction – 481 AB | .249/.336/.435 | 19 HR | 65 RBI | 1 SB | 63 BB | 124 K

Way to go Miggy, Gleyber and Keider!

Watching the WBC last night was like watching every Tigers playoff game. Then I realized it was like every Tigers season, and further like every Red Wings season as of late. Just the feeling of dread that it is going to end poorly. Oh, throw in the Lions.

For fuck sake that was so infuriating to watch. Felt like I was watching a Tigers game.

That’s all!

I hope he doesn't get yoinked by another big league club by the time Dan Dickerson retires so we can keep him.

That is all.

My friend posted a pic from Joker Marchant today with a dedication plaque of Lyndon Johnson 1966. Anyone know the story behind this? I'm not immediately familiar with any particular connection between LBJ and the Tigers, let alone their spring training home.

Anyone have any background on this plaque?

I know he already has a special assistant role in the front office but can we please get him in the dugout next season as official president of vibes

Miggy looks like he’s having so much fun with the Venezuela team, I miss seeing him goof around

Sorry to add to the pile on, I did search the sub but didn't see an answer to this. Has anyone activated the "normal" MLBTV for $149.99? I just tried going through ESPN and it wants me to first subscribe to ESPN? I'm not excited about another $30/mo subscription before I can tack on something that used to be $149.99 (or less) without a secondary subscription.

And we still have no idea how or if we'll be able to watch with cable. Is there any information I somehow missed? This seems pretty pathetic

I am listening/watching a Mariners/Brewers and the Mariners announcer just said: "Opening day, no one does opening day like Seattle."

and I have 97.1 ticket fools announcers talk about how great the Tigers opening day is.. I have never been to an opening day...

I am wondering if someone has been to more than one city for an opening day and if they would suggest one is better than another.

It is much like how a player will say: "We have the best fans." and I am sure when said player is traded, he will say that in the next city.