Barring an unforeseen collapse down the stretch, the Detroit Tigers should face very little competition from here on out for the AL Central division crown. With an 8.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals entering Friday night's slate of games, Detroit has as comfortable a cushion over the closest team to them in the standings as any team can ask for entering September.
Despite that being the case, the Tigers have experienced their fair share of issues within the pitching staff once you go beyond the impeccable season that AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal has put together. One starter in particular, Jack Flaherty, has underwhelmed to the point where he could be on thin ice with the postseason just over a month away.
This is why Detroit's front office must jump at the opportunity to add a proven starter with a pair of World Series titles under his belt to the rotation before Sunday. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, the Boston Red Sox have released veteran starter Walker Buehler.
Red Sox have released Walker Buehler, sources say.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 29, 2025
Tigers Must Target SP Walker Buehler Now to Bolster Postseason Roster
The timing of this move is imperative as Buehler's eligibility for the 2025 postseason hinges on him being on a team's 40-man roster by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday night. With that in mind, the Tigers should be interested in a last-minute deal.
Buehler has not enjoyed his best season by any stretch of the imagination. He had a 7-7 record with an ERA of 5.45 at the time of his release. The 31-year-old righty did get off to a strong start to the 2025 campaign, though. He could be a real contributor to a contender in need of pitching if he's able to find the touch he had back in the spring.
After going 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA in his first six starts, the former Los Angeles Dodgers standout was far less effective over his last 16 appearances, owning a 3-6 record with a 6.37 ERA. For a team like Detroit that already has a No. 1 in place and a reliable starter behind him in Casey Mize, the risk of adding a talent like Buehler, even if he is coming off a poor stint in Boston, is worthwhile.
The Tigers are looking to win the franchise's first World Series since 1984. With a talent like Skubal leading the rotation, fans in Detroit deserve for the organization to go all-in on winning the AL pennant.