The 2025 MLB season is flying by, going from Opening Day to the end of August in a flash. The Detroit Tigers are on pace to end the campaign with 93-plus wins as they enter Thursday's action with an 8.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central race, putting manager A.J. Hinch's club in a good spot to make noise in September and beyond.
The looming postseason means the pressure is on for the Tigers to step up down the stretch, especially if they want to be a part of Hinch & Co.'s October roster. While certain players are meeting expectations, others are struggling to do so, including a pitcher who just arrived in Detroit not too long ago.
Tigers RHP Chris Paddack Has Disappointed Detroit Since Trade Deadline
As most teams do before the trade deadline, the Tigers sought to bolster their pitching depth. Their quest led them to pull off a trade with the rival Minnesota Twins, acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak in exchange for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez.
The deal seemed questionable at the time, considering how Paddack had gone 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts with the Twins before the trade. Nevertheless, some optimistic fans chalked that less-than-glamorous showing to being on an abysmal Minnesota club and hoped being traded to a contender would help turn things around.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case as Paddack has resembled live batting practice rather than a reliable starting arm thus far. In five starts with the Tigers, the Austin, TX native has pitched to a 5.13 ERA after allowing six homers and 15 earned runs on 26 hits across 26 1/3 innings. What's frustrating is that he'll have a solid outing followed by an absolute disaster, making him difficult to trust when his turn in the rotation comes up.
It'd be one thing if Paddack at least had a postseason resume he could dazzle Tigers fans with, but not even that is the case. The 29-year-old righty owns a 9.00 ERA in six playoff innings pitched between his time with the Twins and the San Diego Padres. That's a small sample size, but it's also enough reason to limit his role in the postseason.
After his first month in the Motor City has been a bust, Paddack must have a stronger next month if he wants to help the Tigers end their World Series drought.