Heading into June, the Detroit Tigers sit at the head of what is otherwise an expected class of World Series contenders. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and both New York squads sit within 2.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch pulled Tarik Skubal — the 2024 AL Cy Young winner — in favor of reliever Beau Brieske to begin the eighth inning.

The Tigers are the best team in baseball so far this year, and their new mentality is a big reason why they keep winning.

The Colorado Rockies selected the contract of first baseman Keston Hiura on Saturday. Hiura, 28, signed with the Tigers at the start of spring training in 2024 after spending his entire career in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

New Detroit Tigers reliever Dylan Smith had a 1.61 ERA with eight walks and 32 strikeouts in 22⅓ innings in 14 games in Double-A and Triple-A.

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Clemson baseball had its chances on Saturday night, but a late and unsightly collapse sent the Tigers to the loser’s bracket and a long way from Omaha. West Virginia scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to upset Clemson, 9-6, in a NCAA regional winner’s bracket game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.