Tigers and Red Sox Open Pivotal Series at Fenway
The Detroit Tigers (86-73) enter the final weekend of the regular season with everything still on the line. After salvaging Thursday’s finale against Cleveland with a 4-2 win, Detroit avoided a sweep and pulled even with the Guardians at 86-73. Now, they head to Fenway Park for a critical three-game set against the Boston Red Sox (87-72). With both teams fighting for postseason positioning, every pitch matters.
How to Watch
Date: 09/26/2025
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Stadium: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Watch: Apple TV+
Pitching Matchup: Mize vs. Harrison
Detroit will send right-hander Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 131 K) to the mound. Mize has been steady all year and owns 18 strikeouts across 17.1 innings against Cleveland this season. The Tigers will need him sharp to open the series on the right note.
Boston counters with left-hander Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA, 32 K in 32.2 IP). Harrison has shown flashes of dominance in limited action, but this will be one of the biggest tests of his young season.
Odds:
-Spread: Detroit Tigers -1.5 (+165)/ Boston Red Sox +1.5 (-200)
-Money Line: Detroit Tigers +100/ Boston Red Sox -120
-Over/Under: 8.5
Odds from BetMGM current to the time of publishing
Detroit Finds a Spark
The Tigers snapped an eight-game skid Thursday night, and rookie right-hander Troy Melton set the tone with a 99.4 mph heater, the fastest pitch of his career. Afterward, Melton admitted, “It hasn’t been going the way we want it to go for a little while now, obviously. Kinda felt like a weight lifted off our shoulders. We’re back on track.” Detroit will need to build on that energy if they want to seize control of both the AL Central and Wild Card positioning.
At the plate, the Tigers showed signs of life with home runs from Riley Greene (.262 AVG, 155 hits, 36 HR, 111 RBI), Jahmai Jones (.276 AVG, 34 hits, 7 HR, 19 RBI), and Wenceel Pérez (.247 AVG, 82 hits, 13 HR, 43 RBI). Javier Báez (.254 AVG, 103 hits, 11 HR, 53 RBI) chipped in with a timely single. Detroit will need another balanced offensive effort against Boston’s pitching staff.
What’s at Stake
This series has direct playoff implications on two fronts:
- Wild Card positioning: Detroit and Boston sit second and third in the AL Wild Card standings, just ahead of the Astros. Dropping this series could leave either team vulnerable to being overtaken.
- AL Central title chase: Detroit remains neck-and-neck with Cleveland. Any slip-up could push them into a Wild Card spot and force them into a tougher postseason path.
For the Tigers, the math is simple: win this series, and October baseball stays in reach. Lose it, and they might be watching from home.
Leave a Comment