Alright, it's mid-July, the Futures Game, Home Run Derby, All-Star Game, and MLB Draft are all done and dusted. While we're all fired up for the second half of the season, the Detroit Tigers are pulling off some wild stuff right now. Since June 1, no American League team has a better record than the Tigers. They've absolutely torn it up, winning 22 of their last 36 games, and clawed their way from 11 ½ games back in the AL Central to only 6 ½ games back.
Detroit's Impossible Deadline Decision Is Looming
You hear that right: 22 wins in 36 games! That's six weeks as the league's best team. But here’s the kicker: they're *still* 6 ½ games back. That just shows you the deep hole they dug themselves earlier this season. Now, with the August 3 trade deadline less than three weeks away, the Tigers have only 15 games left, and none of them are against the three teams they're chasing: the White Sox, Guardians, or Twins. They can only make up so much ground. This forces a huge decision on their ace, Tarik Skubal, who's set to be a free agent after this season. Detroit has two brutal choices: trade Skubal for a massive haul of young players and prospects, or keep him and hope this insane hot streak continues. The prediction is they'll make the ruthlessly correct baseball decision and trade Skubal. My guess is he winds up with the Braves, but there's gonna be an intense bidding war for him. The wild part? Even after trading Skubal, the prediction is that the Tigers will stay scorching hot and win the AL Central anyway. This team has a history of inexplicably insane runs, remember? They traded Jack Flaherty at the 2024 deadline, then went 31-13 down the stretch and made the postseason. They won't just get far-off prospects either; they'll get MLB-ready talent that can help them close out the season. This squad is good, and they're finally playing like it.Aaron Judge's Return And The Yankees' Offense
Meanwhile, a different kind of drama is playing out in New York. The Yankees have been struggling big time since Aaron Judge last played on May 31. They're a dismal 18-19, and their offense is practically in slow motion, averaging only 4.24 runs per game. That's 22nd in all of MLB! Judge has a fractured rib, and he's getting imaging this week to check on it. General Manager Brian Cashman said last week the hope is those tests show enough healing. The bold prediction for the Yankees is that Judge will make his big return on September 1 and immediately jump back into form. Not only will he be back, but the prediction says he'll lead all of MLB in home runs for the rest of the season. Talk about a comeback for the ages if that happens! The Yankees desperately need his bat, and if he can truly come back and mash like that, it could totally change their trajectory in the dog days of summer and the upcoming postseason and awards races. The trade deadline on August 3 is going to be absolutely wild, and Judge's imaging results this week are huge for the Yankees. We're heading into some intense baseball, and these predictions are setting up some serious fireworks.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.