OOTP Baseball 27 · Detroit Tigers · AL Central
Detroit ran away with the AL Central by 25 games, then rolled through October: swept the Yankees in the ALDS on a Juan Soto walk-off, took down a Las Vegas Athletics team that actually out-slugged them all season in the ALCS, and outlasted Pittsburgh in a seven-game World Series that swung on an 11-inning Game 6 loss before an ace-vs-ace Game 7 win. First title since 2027, and the first time the Tigers have gotten past their AL Central rival White Sox in the playoffs in three tries.
Juan Soto capped a huge October — the walk-off ALDS-clinching homer against New York was the signature moment of the run, and he carried that form all the way through the World Series.
The title defense has found its footing. After an 11–9 April (one-hit shutout included) left Detroit a half game behind Chicago, an 8–3 start to May has the Tigers 19–12 and in first place, 3.5 games clear of the White Sox. Guo-fang Hou has been the story — 4–1, 2.09 ERA and 57 strikeouts against six walks — with Jackson Jobe (2.32 ERA) right behind him. Juan Soto (.928 OPS, 7 HR) anchors the lineup from first base, new center fielder Justin Crawford is hitting .306 with 18 steals, and Bradgley Rodriguez has nine saves and a 1.29 ERA.