The Detroit Tigers enter their road series against the Seattle Mariners on March 31, 2025, still searching for their first win of the season after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the year. While the 0-3 start is far from ideal, especially with all games being relatively competitive, the Tigers are maintaining an internal sense of calm as they work through early-season growing pains. Manager A.J. Hinch has emphasized patience and resilience, knowing the team is a mix of promising youth and veteran steadiness, and it will take time for the club to find its rhythm. With the Mariners presenting a strong challenge in the American League, Detroit sees this series as a chance to reset and get back on track. One of the lone bright spots for Detroit early on has been the offensive performance of first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson has shown signs of building on his breakout 2024 campaign, where he notched 31 home runs and 94 RBIs, and he continues to look like a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat. His bat speed, improved plate discipline, and ability to handle high-velocity pitching have stood out even in the early losses. The Tigers also saw power production from rookie catcher Dillon Dingler, who hit his first major league home run against the Dodgers. Dingler, a former second-round pick, is expected to split time behind the plate with Jake Rogers, and if his offensive game develops quickly, he could become a key figure in Detroit’s rebuild. The Tigers’ lineup is filled with young players gaining major league experience. Second baseman Colt Keith, who impressed during spring training, has earned everyday reps and is expected to provide a high-contact, gap-to-gap approach. Outfielder Riley Greene remains one of the organization’s foundational players, with his ability to hit to all fields and play strong defense in center field.

Though Greene’s bat has been quiet to open the season, his underlying metrics show a high barrel rate, indicating positive results should follow. Veterans like Javier Báez and Mark Canha provide experience and clubhouse leadership, but they’ll need to step up offensively to help support the team’s younger core. On the pitching side, Detroit’s rotation struggled to contain the Dodgers’ lineup, but the overall talent in the group remains promising. Tarik Skubal, the team’s best starter, had a tough outing in his season debut but is widely expected to anchor the staff again this year with his dominant fastball-changeup combination. In the Seattle series, the Tigers will turn to starters like Casey Mize and Matt Manning, both of whom are coming off injury-riddled 2024 seasons and looking to reestablish their value. The rotation’s success will be critical not just in this series but for the Tigers’ long-term trajectory in 2025. The bullpen has shown mixed results so far, with lefty Tyler Holton and right-hander Jason Foley emerging as go-to options for high-leverage innings. Closer Alex Lange, known for his wicked curveball, struggled with command down the stretch last season and will need to regain consistency to provide reliable back-end relief. If Detroit can stabilize their bullpen performance and avoid giving away late leads, they could remain competitive in close games—a must against a Mariners team that excels in tight contests. Defensively, the Tigers have looked solid, particularly in the infield where Keith and Báez form a strong double-play combination. Greene provides plus defense in center field, and Canha has proven steady in left. The team’s defense must remain sharp, especially with the Mariners capable of capitalizing on miscues with speed and timely hitting. Ultimately, this series offers Detroit an important opportunity to regroup after a tough opening weekend. Facing a Mariners team that’s off to a better start and playing at home, the Tigers will need quality starts, timely hitting, and clean defense to reverse their early-season fortunes. More than anything, Detroit must show resilience and incremental improvement—signs that the club’s rebuild is still heading in the right direction despite the early adversity.