Detroit, MI
Riley Greene makes key discovery as Detroit Tigers lean into City Connect superstition
Riley Greene is a superstitious baseball player.
“Not as much as I used to be,” Greene insisted.
To be fair, Greene hasn’t changed his walk-up song from “Cowgirls” by Morgan Wallen despite a rough stretch at the plate recently, but throughout his three-year MLB career, he has been one of the most superstitious players with the Detroit Tigers, often switching his walk-up song in search of snapping a slump.
Now, after Greene had some of his best swings in the month of May during Friday’s 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tigers are leaning into the City Connect superstition.
“I just started (my swing) a little earlier,” Greene said. “I wish I would have known that a couple weeks ago.”
The Tigers decided to wear the City Connect uniforms for Saturday’s game, even though they weren’t initially supposed to wear them after Friday’s win snapped a five-game losing streak. After the win, catcher Jake Rogers polled all the players about the idea of wearing the City Connect uniforms for Saturday’s game.
Other teams have bought into the City Connect superstition, too.
“The whole organization allows it,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s actually kind of turned into a thing around the league, where teams wonder if there’s a little bit of good fortune with the City Connects.”
ROOKIE RAKES: Tigers rookie Colt Keith hits first home run of MLB career. It wasn’t a fluke
Greene, meanwhile, has struggled to find his groove throughout the last 18 games, hitting .169 with one home run, five walks and 22 strikeouts. He went 1-for-4 with a double in Friday’s game, but he put four balls in play with at least a 90 mph exit velocity while elevating the ball in the air to the pull side.
He had his best swings since the beginning of May.
“My hitting coach texted me the night I punched out three times,” said Greene, who struck out three times in Thursday’s game. “He was like, ‘What do you got?’ I’m like, ‘I’m going to be honest, I have no clue what I’m doing.’ He goes, ‘Just start earlier, man. You’re late as can be.’ So, I started earlier yesterday.”
His hitting coach is Jered Goodwin, his former high school coach who trains him (and other MLB players) in the offseason and works as the vice president of scouting operations at Perfect Game.
The advice from Goodwin helped Greene realize his slump wasn’t related to his swing mechanics, rather the timing of his swing.
“Sometimes, it’s as simple as that,” Greene said. “When he told me that, I was like, ‘Why didn’t I figure that out a couple days ago, or a couple of weeks ago?’ He’s a good dude. He knows what he’s doing.”
Finally, Greene feels like himself again.
ROSTER MOVE: Tigers option reliever Alex Lange to Triple-A Toledo to work on throwing strikes
Greene, a streaky hitter so far in his career, is capable of single-handedly carrying the Tigers on offense, as exemplified by a 16-game stretch from April 17 through May 4, when he hit .339 with five home runs, 11 walks and 16 strikeouts in 16 games.
“He’s the type of hitter that none of us ever really worry about,” Hinch said. “We probably should pay a little bit more attention to the ups and downs that he goes through to try to support him more, but he’s so easy. He comes to the ballpark every day the same. He’s a swing or two away from greatness at all times.”
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Colt Keith’s walk-up song
Colt Keith, a rookie second baseman, likes the choice to wear the City Connect uniforms again, but he isn’t a superstitious player. He knows the jersey he wears doesn’t determine whether or not he performs well.
He hit the first home run of his MLB career in Friday’s game.
JACK IS BACK: It’s all coming together for Tigers’ Jack Flaherty thanks to unlocked slider
“I feel like I’ve been dreaming of that for a while,” Keith said. “It was kind of a blur when it happened. I don’t even know what pitch I hit. I just knew that I hit it good, and I was just happy to see it fly into the stands.”
Unlike Greene in the past, Keith has stuck with his walk-up song — “Rocketeer” by Far East Movement — throughout the ups and downs of his rookie season. The 22-year-old considered switching his walk-up song earlier in the year, but his fiancée, Kaitlyn Vickers, wouldn’t let him change it.
Sounds like the soon-to-be Mrs. Keith isn’t superstitious, either.
“She told me if I change it, she’s going to hit me,” Keith said, jokingly. “I thought about changing it a couple of times, and Kait said no. She said, ‘That’s the best walk-up song on the team, you got to keep it.’ Whatever she says.”
Spencer Torkelson on the bench
First baseman Spencer Torkelson, who continues to struggle at the plate, sat the bench for Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays. Instead of Torkelson, outfielder Mark Canha handled the duties at first base.
The 24-year-old is stuck in an 0-for-19 slump.
He is hitting .135 in his last 10 games.
Torkelson previously had hits in 12 of his 13 games from May 5 through May 19, but even then, he hit just .280 with two walks and 12 strikeouts during that stretch. For the entire season, Torkelson is hitting .207 with three home runs, 16 walks and 45 strikeouts in 49 games.
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.
Detroit, MI
Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron
The Pistons have made recent moves to add more shooting, but still don’t have anyone quite as lethal as former Detroit guard Luke Kennard. On Saturday night, Kennard had a brilliant start to his postseason with 27 uber-efficient points for the Lakers in a win against the Rockets. His level of 3-point accuracy is something the Pistons have desperately been seeking all season long to bolster their offense.
Luke Kennard’s shooting makes him a dangerous playoff performer
Kennard was originally drafted to Detroit with the 17th pick of the 2017 Draft. The Pistons have plenty of draft regrets from that general era of team history, but picking Kennard has never been one of them. Despite any other weaknesses he may have, his strength as a shooter has always been enough to offset them.
In terms of pure 3-point percentage, Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He averages 44% behind the arc for his career, and shot a blistering 48% this season – the best mark in the league. Given his incredible track record, it’s not exactly a shocker to see him shoot 5-of-5 from three en route to 27 points in Game 1.
Not only is Kennard obviously an excellent standstill shooter, but he’s also a master of getting himself open with his movement. On Saturday night, he was able to play off LeBron James perfectly for a few easy looks. After that, he caught enough of a rhythm to create 3-point looks for himself, even in transition.
A player like Kennard is easily capable of turning an entire playoff game when he gets hot. In a close series, that one game where Kennard hits several threes can be all the difference his team needs to advance. If the Lakers do manage to win this series, even without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Kennard’s shooting will be a major reason why.
The Pistons could use someone like Kennard
Kennard would be a perfect marginal addition for the Pistons that only makes them better without taking anything away from the team. To be fair, the Pistons do have two shooters who have been hot recently in Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. But having more than one respected shooter on the court at a time is often necessary to maintain a solid offense in today’s NBA.
Given the Pistons’ current lack of shooting, any additional shooters are welcome. And Kennard is understandably one of the most feared shooters in the league, capable of bending defenses just by the threat of him taking a three. Rolling him out on the Pistons would surely open up more lanes for Detroit’s stars to attack the paint and score easier points.
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Detroit, MI
Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94
A Detroit woman was arrested in the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision and shooting on Interstate 94, Michigan State Police reported.
Emergency dispatchers were called shortly after midnight Saturday about the altercation. Troopers reported the caller said while they were driving eastbound on I-94, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a black Jeep sideswiped them and sped off.
The caller then decided to follow the Jeep.
In response, police said, the driver of the Jeep fired several gunshots in the caller’s direction.
None of the gunshots struck the vehicle.
Troopers were able to use license plate reader camera technology to locate the Jeep while it was on the Lodge Freeway, made a traffic stop. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident.
The passengers were released shortly afterwards; troopers believe that the 19-year-old driver was the shooter. She has been lodged pending further review by the prosecutor’s office.
In addition, a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.
The above video originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.
Detroit, MI
Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday
NBA playoffs best matchups
Breaking down the best first-round NBA playoff matchups.
Who is favored in the NBA playoffs odds for Game 1 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic?
Here’s what you need to know about NBA playoff betting odds for the NBA game between the No. 8 seed Magic and No. 1 seed Pistons, which is being played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
What is the point spread for the Pistons vs Magic game?
What is the moneyline for the Magic vs Pistons game?
What is the over/under (point total) for betting on the first-round NBA playoff matchup?
NBA playoffs odds: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | NBA championship odds | Game odds
Watch Magic at Pistons on Peacock
Magic vs Pistons odds: What is point spread?
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Detroit Pistons are an 8.5-point favorite over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series.
NBA playoffs Game 1 predictions, picks: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | The Republic’s score projections
Pistons vs Magic odds: What is moneyline?
BetMGM Sportsbook lists Detroit as -375 on the moneyline for the first-round NBA playoff game. It has Orlando at +290.
NBA playoffs series schedules, TV channels: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Daily schedule | First-round matchups
Magic vs Pistons odds: What is over/under?
The point total for the opening game of the NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Magic is listed at 218.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.
NBA playoffs series picks, predictions: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | The Republic’s predictions | NBA playoff bracket
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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