MLB recognizes Tigers' milestone after Rays win

Detroit closed out Monday night at Comerica Park with a 5‑1 win over Tampa Bay, marking a major season milestone. It is the first time since 2013 the Tigers have been 24 games over .500. MLB confirmed the feat after the game, and it’s worth pausing on, even for a fan base used to lower expectations in recent seasons.

Back on June 11, a Torkelson‑led win over Baltimore put the Tigers 20 games above .500, the first time since the Miguel Cabrera‑Justin Verlander era of 2013 that they’d reached that highwater mark. That lineup then was stacked with future Hall‑of‑Famers and pitching aces. Now it’s a different cast but the fast‑start formula looks eerily familiar.

Through 78 games, Detroit’s riding heavy hitters like Riley Greene, consistent contributors like Gleyber Torres and an ace in Tarik Skubal as they’ve put together balanced baseball. With 58 wins, they have the best record in baseball. They have a 14-game lead in their division.

Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez celebrates his home run against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 7, 2025. 

© Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

What makes this stretch feel different is the attitude. Instead of grinding through losses, the Tigers are looking like they believe they belong in this position.

The question now is, can they keep this up through the rest of the summer and avoid the mid‑season swoon? The Rays had been one of the hottest teams in the American League. The Tigers handled them easily.

If they keep playing this way, the remainder of the season could feel even longer because it could stretch deep into October.

So yeah, it’s exciting. It’s early. But this is baseball, and once you’re this far over .500, you might just be headed somewhere worth remembering.