Tarik Skubal is the leader of the first-place Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty ... More Images) Getty Images In the interest of full disclosure, this contributor picked the Detroit Tigers to win the American League Central. So, from my perspective, for the team to get off to a hot start is not shocking. However, after a month of baseball, it is fascinating to see how they are doing it. To begin, the Tigers are 13-3 at home. Does anyone expect them to go 66-15 at Tiger Stadium for a full season, no. But they have been playing great on their home diamond. According to The Athletic, one has to go back to 1911 to find a better home start (that team won their first twelve, and 21 of their first 23 at home). Then there is their run differential. As of this writing, they are +40, which puts them in 4th place, just behind the Mets, Yankees, and Cubs. Detroit’s +45 at home is far and away the best in the American League, and trails only the San Diego Padres (+47) in all of MLB. Starting Pitching In their run to the playoffs last season, the “Gritty Tigs” utilized “pitching chaos” (as defined by manager A.J. Hinch). The club relied on eventual Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and then a series of openers and long relievers to make their way. This year is a different story. The starting rotation of Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, and Reese Olson is fourth in the league in starter ERA (3.17), just .01 behind the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers traded Flaherty to the Dodgers at the deadline last summer, and then brought him back in free agency. There is an argument to be made that the team would have gone further in the playoffs had they had a strong #2 on their starting staff, but what’s done is done. And Trey Sweeney, one of the two players they received from the Dodgers as part of the deal, is now Detroit’s everyday shortstop. MORE FOR YOU Google’s Update Decision—Bad News For 50% Of Android Users ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Thursday, May 1 Kamala Harris Blasts Trump’s ‘Narrow, Self-Serving Vision Of America’ In First Big Speech Since Leaving Office Skubal has been his dominant self. He has started six games, has a 2.34 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and an eight-to-one strikeout/walk ratio. Flaherty is averaging more than five innings per start, has a 3.34 ERA, and a 3.85 FIP. His 1-3 record belies how effective he has been in his six starts, striking out more than three batters to every one walk. Jobe is finally living up to the hype that surrounded being the number three overall pick in the 2021 draft. He has started five games, has a 2-0 record, with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Likewise, it appears as if Casey Mize has figured it out. He has also started five games, won four of them, with opposing batters hitting .216 against him. Reese Olson has started six games, and currently carries the worst ERA of the bunch – 3.55. He is averaging more than five innings per start, and has only given up one home run all season. The bullpen is pulling its weight as well. Their 2.74 is fourth in the league. And they are doing this while Beau Brieske and John Brebbia are both on the 15-day injured list. Will Vest, Tommy Kahnle, and Brant Hurter have combined to go 9-for-11 in save opportunities. The rest of the group, led by Brenan Hanifee (14.1 IP) and Tyler Holton (13.2 IP) are doing their job each time Hinch makes a call to the pen. On the offensive side of the equation, the Tigers rank in the top half of all major league teams in every category save for doubles and stolen bases. (They are actually tied for third worst, with only 14 stolen bases, while Oneil Cruz and Pete Crow-Armstrong each have 12 of their own.) Spencer Torkelson is beginning to look like the number one pick he was back in 2020. Through his 30 games, he is slashing .243/.362/.542, with eight home runs, and a 157 OPS+. Right fielder/designated hitter Kerry Carpenter is on pace for more than a 3.0 bWAR season. He has played in 26 games, has 11 extra base hits, including seven dingers, and has an .846 OPS. Gleyber Torres, playing his first games outside the Yankees’ organization has brought great leadership, playing both second base and shortstop. He is currently slashing .292/.350/.444, with a 128 OPS+. Zach McKinstry has been a jack of all trades, playing left field, right field, third base, second base, and shortstop. And while he moves about the diamond, he is hitting .326 with a .425 on base percentage, which is seventh in MLB. And possibly the biggest surprise is the once-forgotten Javy Báez. Left for dead after an injury-riddled 2024, he didn’t even make the playoff roster. But, prior to the season, he walked into Hinch’s office and “asked what he needed to do to help this team win.” Báez even offered to catch. Hinch took him up on his offer (but not to catch), and sent him out to centerfield. Báez has played ten games on the grass, and is 14-for-14 in putout opportunities. Meanwhile, he is hitting .299. He is still a free swinger (22 Ks vs. 4 BBs), and has yet to hit a homer, but his presence is definitely being felt in the lineup. Javy Báez hasn't had much experience in the outfield, so it was not too surprising that he crashed ... More into the wall after catching a fly ball in Detroit. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Tigers are for real. ESPN has them as the #9 team in their last two power rankings. The Athletic actually has them at #7. It is early, but the team has been very good, with considerable room to get even better. More than a month into the season, this contributor’s pick is looking pretty solid. Follow me on Twitter. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades