DETROIT – There’s no way I’m missing the Detroit Tigers game tonight, and neither should you.
I wouldn’t have said this a week ago, when the Tigers and Twins were scheduled to play a typical Sunday afternoon game.
But that’s not the case anymore. They were flexed to Sunday Night Baseball, and that sets up some must-see TV.
It’s nothing against the normal broadcast team on FanDuel Sports Network -- in fact, I prefer Jason Benetti and Andy Dirks to just about anybody.
But tonight, the whole country will get to watch our first place Tigers at their absolute best: with Tarik Skubal on the mound.
Sunday Night Baseball in Detroit
It’s the first time Sunday Night Baseball has come to Detroit since 2017. Can you believe that: Eight years without being chosen to host what’s essentially baseball’s “game of the week.”
Oh, and it might also be the last time ever. ESPN’s deal with MLB is set to come to an end after 2025, so unless the Tigers play another Sunday night game in the second half, this could be the last time we get that iconic “Sunday Night Baseball” branding in Detroit.
Maybe you don’t care about that sort of thing, but for the baseball diehards who have gotten used to their weekends winding down to the sound of the Sunday night game, summer won’t be quite the same.
The Tigers finally have a team to be proud of, and I’m excited to see how they perform with the entire baseball world watching.
Primetime Tarik Skubal
It’s so awesome that Skubal happens to be on the mound for this game. It feels like we could see something really special.
Skubal is a stud nearly every time he takes the mound, but he’s definitely the kind of guy who finds an extra gear in the big games. Remember that complete game shutout vs. Cleveland, when he touched 103 mph for the final out?
The Tigers have the best record in the league, and Skubal is the best pitcher on the planet, so seeing this team on the big stage is going to be electric.
Not to be a downer, but we’ve probably only got a season and a half left of Skubal wearing the Old English D, so these moments when he takes the ball on a national stage will be few and far between.
He’s a big game pitcher, and this is a big game. What more could you want?
Series on the line
I know the Tigers have a big lead in the American League Central Division, so these games aren’t exactly make-or-break. But there’s still a series against a division rival on the line.
The Tigers have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball at winning series. They’ve only lost seven, and we’re more than halfway through the season.
Sunday is a chance to win a second-straight series and finish the home stand 4-2, which feels a lot better than 3-3.
It’s also a chance to push the Twins to 12.5 games back in the Central and maintain the double-digit lead over Cleveland.