The Detroit Tigers are set to begin the second half of their 2025 campaign on Friday night with a road matchup against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET, as Tigers right-hander Reece Olson takes the mound against veteran lefty Patrick Corbin of the Rangers.
Despite entering the All-Star break on a sour note with four straight losses, the Tigers remain in an enviable position. They boast the best record in all of Major League Baseball at 59-38 and hold a commanding 11.5-game lead in the American League Central. With their eyes clearly set on a postseason push, Detroit looks poised to contend for a deep run in October.
But the Tigers could be chasing more than just playoff success. According to @StatsCentre, Detroit is currently on pace to win 99 games this season. If they can reach the 100-win milestone, it would mark only the sixth time in franchise history that they’ve done so. That’s notable because in three of the previous five 100-win seasons, the Tigers advanced all the way to the World Series — a trend they’d love to continue.
This year’s team is built for sustained success, anchored by ace left-hander Tarik Skubal, widely regarded as the top starting pitcher in the American League. They’re also led by AJ Hinch, a manager with a World Series title on his résumé and the strategic acumen to guide a team through October. With valuable playoff experience gained from reaching the ALDS in 2024, the Tigers know the intensity of postseason baseball and appear more prepared than ever to handle the pressure.
Despite heading into the All-Star break on a four-game skid, the @tigers still sit alone atop Major League Baseball’s overall standings with an impressive 59-38 record. The strong first half puts Detroit on pace for nearly 100 wins this season — a milestone reached just five times in franchise history. If the Tigers can keep up their winning ways, they could secure one of the top six single-season win totals in club history, trailing only a handful of elite campaigns in the team’s storied past.
As for Friday’s pitching duel, Olson enters with a 4-3 record and an impressive 2.95 ERA, continuing to establish himself as a dependable arm in the rotation. Corbin, on the other hand, brings a 6-7 record and a 4.15 ERA into the start, looking to help keep the Rangers’ postseason hopes alive. Texas sits at 48-49, in third place in the AL West and fighting to stay in the wild card mix, although Fangraphs currently gives them just a 17.8% chance of making the playoffs.
For Detroit, Friday’s game marks more than just a return from the break — it’s a chance to reassert their dominance and take another step toward what could be a historic season.
