Baseball is finally taking notice: Detroit is earning its moment in the spotlight.
The Detroit Tigers have emerged as true championship contenders in the early stretch of the 2025 MLB season. With 44 wins in their first 69 games, they’re on pace for their first 100-win season in four decades. Their strong showing has pushed them to fourth in World Series odds at +800 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Now viewed as one of the league’s top teams, the Tigers are beginning to earn long-overdue respect from both analysts and their fellow clubs. The buzz around A.J. Hinch’s squad is impossible to ignore, forcing Major League Baseball to give the Motor City its due attention.
MLB Flexes Upcoming Tigers vs. Twins Showdown to Sunday Night Baseball on June 29
The remainder of the Tigers’ June schedule includes several intriguing matchups, highlighted by a three-game home series against division rival Minnesota from June 27-29 at Comerica Park. With both teams outperforming expectations in the AL Central, MLB has opted to make a notable adjustment for the series.
On Thursday, ESPN announced that the June 29 game between the Tigers and Twins has been selected as that week’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. The game will now air nationally at 7 p.m. ET, instead of its original 1:40 p.m. ET start.
It will be worth watching how the AL Central standings shape up by then. As of June 12, Detroit holds a seven-game lead over Minnesota, though the landscape can shift quickly over a couple of weeks.
This upcoming series marks the second meeting between the clubs in 2025. They last faced off in mid-April at Target Field, where the Tigers took two of three games — a statement win that reinforced their status as the division’s front-runners.
With more than two weeks until the rematch, Detroit has a chance to build further momentum. Their schedule in the meantime features series against the Reds, Pirates, Rays, and Athletics — all of whom are currently outside the playoff picture.
If the Tigers can take advantage of those matchups, their lead over the Twins could be even greater by the time they meet again on national television.
