Just In: Upcoming Tigers series is brutal on paper, but Reds luck out in one huge way

Fresh off a weekend sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cincinnati Reds are heading into a daunting stretch of games against teams from the AL Central.

In fact, their next six opponents are all in the playoff hunt. To navigate this challenging run, the Reds will need a mix of talent and good fortune — and they may catch a break when they visit Detroit.

It appears the Reds will avoid facing Tarik Skubal, arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball right now. Unless something changes last minute — like a weather delay or a rotation shakeup — the left-hander is scheduled to pitch the final game of Detroit’s series against Baltimore on June 12, the day before Cincinnati arrives.

The Reds need to make the most of their luck in missing Tarik Skubal’s turn in the rotation

The Reds still have a tough task ahead as they prepare to take on one of the hottest teams in baseball. Keider Montero and Jack Flaherty are slated to start the first two games of the series, and together they’ve surrendered just five runs over their last 33 ⅓ innings.

Flaherty’s impressive strikeout rate (29.7%) could be particularly problematic for Cincinnati, a team not known for making consistent contact. Sawyer Gipson-Long is lined up for Game 3 and remains somewhat of a wild card, having made just one major league start.

While Detroit’s pitching staff has been dominant, the offense has struggled mightily. Since mid-May, the Tigers rank near the bottom of the American League in offensive fWAR at -9.4.

In contrast, the Reds have posted a 3.1 fWAR in that span and are showing signs of heating up. They’ll need to maintain that offensive momentum through the series in Cleveland and into Detroit.

Playing in Detroit presents its own hurdles. The Tigers boast an AL-best 23-9 home record at Comerica Park, while the Reds are 15-17 on the road. Cincinnati has also gone 16-19 against teams currently above .500 and continues to patch together a lineup amid ongoing injuries.

Not having to face Tarik Skubal—and also avoiding the top arms in Cleveland’s rotation—gives the Reds an edge. But they must capitalize on these chances. The coming weeks could be pivotal for their season.