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Detroit Tigers’ Javier Báez builds on stolen-base streak while gaining momentum on offense

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Detroit Tigers’ Javier Báez builds on stolen-base streak while gaining momentum on offense


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Not only is Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez heating up on offense over the past week, he continues to provide elite defense and a perfect record on the basepaths.

The 31-year-old has five stolen bases in five attempts this season.

Even better, Báez has 18 consecutive steals without getting caught, dating back to the tail end of the 2022 season.

“His instincts are incredible,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He picks up cues really early. He does study the guys. And he’s fearless. That combo will make him take maybe a few more chances than others, but he’s not unprepared. I think he has unique baseball acumen in general, and it comes out in instinctual plays.”

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The streak dates back to a third-inning steal Sept. 16, 2022, against the Chicago White Sox. Báez, now in his third of six seasons with the Tigers, owns the franchise’s second-longest streak since 2012.

On Opening Day, Báez was asked if he wants to steal more bases in 2024.

“I want to,” Báez said, “as long as I feel good and healthy, but you can’t steal first. You got to get to first. I mean, I stole first once.”

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As a team, the Tigers have stolen 12 bases in 12 attempts this season.

But that’s well behind several other franchises this season.

The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals are tied atop the stolen-base leaderboard with 38. Two American League Central teams are in the top 10: the Kansas City Royals, with 22, and the Cleveland Guardians, with 19 steals. The Tigers, through, rank 19th in stolen bases.

“Base stealing in general has gone up through the roof with the pitch clock,” Hinch said, “and the evolution of best pitches, best shapes. We’re focused so much on the pitcher and what he’s throwing to the hitter. Over the years, the attention paid to base runners has diminished. My trust is all based on whether or not you’re prepared and whether or not your first step is good and you go at the right time with the combination pitcher-catcher, situation of the game.”

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Báez needs four more steals in a row to pass outfielder Quintin Berry’s streak of 21 in a row, the longest streak by a Tiger since 2012. Berry racked up those steals from May 25-Sept. 16, 2012; that season, he hit .258 with a .330 OBP in 94 games.

LESSONS: Tigers’ Kenta Maeda pinpoints pitching mechanics as reason for bad start to 2024

Beyond stolen bases, Báez has been steady for the Tigers on defense. He is already worth plus-2 defensive runs saved in 2024. He has fixed his throwing accuracy when fielding routine ground balls, all while making the spectacular plays.

He is consistent on defense.

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And finally, Báez is starting to heat up on offense.

“I’m making adjustments,” Báez said after Thursday’s 9-7 win over the Texas Rangers. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just trying to do my timing and my swing, and if I do my timing and my swing and my plan, and I trust it, I just got to see the ball. It doesn’t matter who’s on the mound.”

In eight games since April 14, Báez is hitting .280 with three doubles, one home run, two walks and four strikeouts, spanning 27 plate appearances. He swung at 49.2% of pitches outside the strike zone in those eight games, an improvement from 51.6% in his first 11 games.

Chasing fewer pitches has resulted in more fastballs.

KERRY BONDS: Kerry Carpenter: The one Tiger locked in and raking all season

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And Báez’s swing as of recently has been on time for fastballs, which rarely happened last season.

“That’s what I mean about the plan,” Báez said. “I got a plan, the other team got a plan and the pitcher got a plan. Everything has got to match, and hopefully, it goes the way we want it.”

The improved production on offense is a small sample size, but what Báez has accomplished on the bases is nearly two years in the making. He had the 11th multi-steal game of his career in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Báez is a veteran, but he still has above-average sprint speed and elite instincts.

“He’s just a good all-around baseball player,” Hinch said, “and I think that has been an underrated part of his impact throughout his whole career, not just the last couple of years with us, but dating back to the younger days.”

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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.





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Detroit, MI

10 cheapest flights out of Detroit Metro Airport this summer

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10 cheapest flights out of Detroit Metro Airport this summer


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As temperatures rise and the end of the school year nears, budget-conscious travelers in Michigan are in luck: There are still plenty of destinations where you can “get away” this summer without breaking the bank.

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You might have to fiddle around with the departure and return days or alter the length of your stay, but flexibility and adaptability are crucial to saving a large chunk of money in your summer travels.

Below, we’ve listed 10 cheap flights out of Detroit Metro Airport for you to consider this summer. All of the listed prices are for roundtrip fares with no baggage, but keep in mind that budget airlines often charge hefty fees for both carry-on and checked luggage.

More: Detroit Metro Airport launches free loyalty program offering gift cards, airline miles

Additionally, all options below are for nonstop flights unless otherwise mentioned.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The cheapest flight on this list as of early May, a roundtrip nonstop trip to Philadelphia with Frontier costs as little as $38.

Atlanta, Georgia

A trip to Atlanta flying Frontier or Spirit sits within the $50-80 range all throughout June. Prices rise in July before dropping back down in August.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Just under 30 miles from Miami, Fort Lauderdale can cost you as little as $52 if you fly with Spirit on a Tuesday or Wednesday in June.

Tampa, Florida

If you hold off your vacation until the second half of the summer, you can snag flights to Tampa with Spirit for as low as $77 or even as low as $58 with Frontier. The secret? Look for flights in July and August, either departing or returning on a Wednesday.

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New York City

While a little harder to spot and a lot more scattered, you can still find a couple of steals flying into New York’s LaGuardia Airport for as little as $52 at the start of June, $83 in mid-July and $72 in mid-August; just look for flights with Spirit departing on a Wednesday and returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

If you’re looking for a cheap flight to Myrtle Beach, prepare to pack your bags in June. There are a slew of flights between $63 and $83 if you travel with Spirit on a weekday in June, but after that, prices increase throughout the remainder of the summer.

Orlando, Florida

In the beginning of June and all throughout July, there are plenty of Frontier flights between $66 and $90 available as long as you look for dates to depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday and return on a Thursday or Saturday.

Las Vegas, Nevada

From the beginning of July through the end of August, there is a large number of Frontier flights to Las Vegas priced exactly at $96, exclusively for travel days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Nashville, Tennessee

There is a sizeable selection of $97 six-day trips to Nashville with just a few requirements: you fly Spirit departing on a Wednesday and returning on a Tuesday in July.

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San Diego, California

While on the pricier side of the spectrum, this is still considered a deal when flying to California. Usual flights from Detroit to San Diego fall within the $500 range, but flights with Spirit in June stay below $200 — usually with a layover — while flights Frontier in July sit below $250.



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Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees: What time, TV channel is series opener in NYC on?

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Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees: What time, TV channel is series opener in NYC on?


Detroit Tigers (18-13) at New York Yankees (20-13)

When: 7:05 p.m. Friday.

Where: Yankee Stadium in New York.

TV: Bally Sports Detroit.

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Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1). (Tigers radio affiliates).

Probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Reese Olson (0-4, 3.18 ERA) vs. Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1, 3.69 ERA).

• Box score

Tigers lineup: TBA

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Game notes: It’s another matchup of wild-card contenders as the Tigers — who own the American League’s third WC spot thanks to Boston’s loss to San Francisco on Thursday — visit the Yankees — who dropped into the top WC spot after losing three of four to AL East-leading Baltimore this week — for a three-game set.

The Yanks have started strong (aside from their issues with the O’s) on the backs of a rotation whose ERA (3.25) entered Thursday No. 4 in the AL. Tonight’s starter, 10-year veteran Marcus Stroman — who signed a two-year, $37 million contract over the winter — has arguably been New York’s least effective starter. The 3.69 ERA is solid, but he has had his issues both in the zone — 30 hits, including five home runs, in 31⅔ innings — and outside it (15 walks and two hit-by-pitches), for a 1.421 WHIP that’s 42nd among the 46 American Leaguers qualified for the ERA title. He carries a career 3.25 ERA against the Tigers into tonight’s start … but he hasn’t faced the Old English “D” since 2019.

The Tigers, meanwhile, will send Reese Olson to the mound; the second-year starter has a sterling 3.18 that would be in the AL’s top 20 if he had enough innings to qualify for the leaderboard (which he should after tonight’s start). He’s done it by limiting the big hits by opposing batters; of his 26 safeties allowed in 28⅓ innings, just six have been for extra bases, and none for home runs. Olson is coming off one of the best games of his career, in which he held the Royals to three hits over seven innings while racking up eight strikeouts on April 26.

The Yankees offense he’ll face is far from the Bronx Bombers of old, but they can do some damage, with a 4.75 runs-per-game average that’s fifth in the AL and 40 homers, good for second. That’s despite having just two players with OPSes over .800: Alex Verdugo (.805) … and Juan Soto (1.030 following his 2-for-4 performance that featured a triple on Thursday). Soto, in his final year before free agency, has shown the blend of power — six doubles and eight homers — and patience — an MLB-high 26 walks in 148 plate appearances — that should earn him the sport’s second-highest contract (or No. 1, if you don’t count the deferred money Shohei Ohtani is receiving from the Dodgers) this winter.

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The Tigers’ offense, meanwhile, is the little engine that could, with a 4.10-run average that’s in the bottom half of the league, albeit close to the AL average (4.21). They’ve got two batters with OPSes above .800: Mark Canha (.888) and Riley Greene (.906) — Greene isn’t far behind Soto, with seven homers and 23 walks in 133 plate appearances.

After today’s series opener, the Tigers and Yankees meet again in the Bronx for a Saturday matinee with Casey Mize on the mound for the Tigers, and then on Sunday with Tarik Skubal looking to boost his Cy Young candidacy.

TIGERS NEWSLETTER: Detroit Tigers newsletter: Tarik Skubal tops AL Cy Young contenders after dominant April

Live updates

For updates from and around the diamond, check it out on X.

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Contact Ryan Ford at rford@freepress.com. Follow him on X (which used to be Twitter, y’know?) @theford. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.  





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Police search for child’s family after found wandering in Detroit

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Police search for child’s family after found wandering in Detroit


Detroit police searching for suspects in shooting that injured 2 kids, 2 adults and more top stories

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Detroit police searching for suspects in shooting that injured 2 kids, 2 adults and more top stories

04:01

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Detroit Police Department


(CBS DETROIT) – The Detroit Police Department is searching for the family of a child found wandering in Detroit on Thursday.

Police say the child, who is nonverbal, was found at about 7 p.m. in the area of Linwood and Davison.

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Anyone with information is asked to call DPD’s 10th Precinct at 313-596-1000.

On Wednesday, police were looking for the parents of another child found wandering at about 6:30 p.m. in the area of Clifton and Wetherby streets.

That child has since been reunited with family.

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