Two of the American League’s oldest franchises made for two of last fall’s coolest playoff runs, and they open up the MLB week tangled together on Monday afternoon. The New York Yankees, starting the series atop their division at 6-3, march to The Mitten and face the Detroit Tigers, who come in having won five of their last six games.
How to watch New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers
Viewing guide
| Time (ET) | TV | Stream | Probables |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mon. 3:10 p.m. |
Carlos Rodon |
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Tues. 1:10 p.m. |
Carlos Carrasco |
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Wed. 1:10 p.m. |
Amazon Prime |
Max Fried |
New York’s bats are the talk of the league right now — baseball’s top scoring offense touts three former MVPs, but also, the literal pieces of wood the Yankees are swinging have caused a minor frenzy. The torpedoing Yanks mash at a near-unholy level right now, averaging 8.4 runs and almost three homers per game. Aaron Judge (not a torpedo-bat user) has swatted six of those across the first three series, while Paul Goldschmidt looks adjusted to pinstripes in his early returns (.324/.395/.471 in all nine opening outings). Cody Bellinger can still microwave power when he’s healthy and locked in; Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe provide pop from the middle infield.
It’s the Yankees’ pitching that’s been shaky thus far. Arizona tagged their arms for seven runs in two of three games last week. Pittsburgh’s less-than-formidable lineup plated at least four in all three weekend tries and walked the Yankees off in 11 innings Sunday.
Opening Day starter Carlos Rodon goes on Monday. The two-time All-Star left-hander was sharp against the Brewers, striking out seven in 5.1 innings of one-run ball, but he dropped a choppy second start to the Diamondbacks (four runs with four walks across six). Tuesday’s probable is Carlos Carrasco, the Venezuelan 38-year-old righty with a 7.36 ERA in his two appearances. He routinely pitched in this ballpark as a decade-long staple of the Cleveland rotation. Another two-time All-Star lefty, Max Fried, is on the bump for Wednesday. The former Atlanta ace picked a win on Friday, besting the Pirates with six Ks and one earned run in 5.2 innings of work.
The hosts are feeling themselves after a rough opening draw (on the road in Los Angeles as the Dodgers received their World Series rings). The Tigers enjoyed an afternoon walk-off win versus the White Sox on Sunday, with former first-overall pick Spencer Torkelson delivering the damage:
TORK WALKS IT OFF!! pic.twitter.com/mWbckggnhA
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 6, 2025
He, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter have park-clearing swings. Colt Keith enters this week leading the American League in walks (.174 average to a .457 OPB). Four Tigers have hit a triple across their three series.
But Detroit doesn’t need an overwhelming offense with such loaded arms. It has the reigning Cy Young triple-crowner, Tarik Skubal, a blooming talent in Jack Flaherty and one of the top bullpens in the sport.
The lefty Skubal (scheduled for Tuesday) struck out 17 Yankees in 12 innings last season and had a 2.25 ERA in those two starts. Right-handed Flaherty (Wednesday’s probable) had a sub-3 ERA in his inaugural Tigers season and has kicked off 2025 with just three earned runs in 11.1 innings. Righty Casey Mize gets things going early on Monday. His velocity jumped this spring, scouts like his retooled splitter, and he blanked Seattle on April 1 (5.2 innings, one hit, three walks, six strikeouts).
Most home runs in both jerseys:
- Cecil Fielder (245 DET, 26 NYY)
- Curtis Granderson (115 NYY, 102 DET)
- Charlie Keller (184 NYY, 5 DET)
American League winner odds
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(Photo of Austin Wells and Aaron Judge: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)