Detroit, MI
Rocket predictions: News ‘experts’ pick their favorites, dark horses and winners
Detroit — The Rocket’s back.
The PGA Tour returns to Detroit Golf Club this week, for the sixth playing of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which has struggled at times to put together a star-studded field, but hasn’t struggled in producing the drama.
Every Rocket has had its fair share of story lines, and drama. The tournament has had two playoffs, including Rickie Fowler’s triumph over Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin, last year. And the tournament’s had its fair share of marquee winners, including Tony Finau in 2022 and Bryson DeChambeau in 2020.
Who will it be this year?
The News’ resident golf “experts” weigh in, before the action gets under way at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday.
Tony Paul, reporter
▶ Favorite: Tom Kim has to be the popular pick this week in Detroit, given his performance at the Travelers, where he led almost the entire tournament until late on Sunday, when Scottie Scheffler passed him by (no shame in that) and eventually won in a playoff. Kim knows how to go low, and he’s done it in Detroit. Cameron Young will be atop a lot of folks’ list, too, after his 59 on Sunday, and his tie for second in Detroit in 2022, but if the rough is thick, Young and his erratic driver could have some issues.
▶ One to watch: I’m extremely curious to see how 15-year-old Miles Russell handles his first appearance in a PGA Tour event, in the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption. He did just swell in his Korn Ferry Tour debut, becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut on that circuit. He played Detroit Golf Club earlier this year, and apparently tore the place up (and he also swung by Oakland Hills, shooting 67-68 from the tips).
▶ Dark horse: Neal Shipley. He joined the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Viktor Hovland and a handful of others in earning low-amateur honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. He since has turned professional, and projects to be one of those quick-to-the-winner-circle fellas.
▶ Winner: Rickie Fowler. The Rocket hasn’t had a repeat winner, but I’ll say that ends this year. He’s struggled since his breakthrough win in Detroit a year ago, but turned it on the Travelers, just in time for one of his favorite stops.
John Niyo, columnist
▶ Favorite: Cameron Young is the highest-ranked player in the field, and he’s coming in hot, fresh off firing a 59 on Saturday at the Travelers. But with his combination of power and touch, he’s also a perfect fit for this Donald Ross course, as he proved with a runner-up finish to Tony Finau in 2022
▶ One to watch: Chris Kirk is a horse for this course, no doubt. His tie for 14th here last year was his fourth straight top-25 finish, a run that includes a dozen rounds in the 60s.
▶ Dark horse: J.J. Spaun has made the cut in every RMC — no one else can say that — and last year’s T33 was his worst finish to date. Recent results aren’t great, but a Motor City visit might be just what he needed.
▶ Winner: Taylor Pendrith followed up a runner-up finish here in 2022 with another top-15 last year at DGC. After notching his breakthrough win at the Byron Nelson this spring, I’m picking him to double up this week in Detroit.
More: The News’ tee-to-green coverage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, all right here
Craig Yuhas, assistant sports editor
▶ Favorite: Tom Kim. Without a star-studded field, Kim stands out as someone that should have a great chance after finishing second at Travelers Championship. The biggest problem is how much gas do some of the better players, including Kim, have in the tank? Kim is playing his ninth event in a row, and many will be playing their fourth or fifth tournament in a row this week. He seems to be handling it the best right now.
▶ One to watch: Rickie Fowler. His win at last year’s RMC was a big breakthrough as he embarks on the second half of his PGA Tour career. His play has been steady but not spectacular since. He will have a big following, as he always does, when he’s here. Maybe that is the jolt his game needs to get back rolling to finish off the season.
▶ Dark horse: Adam Schenk. He’s had a up-and-down year, but when he’s good, he’s really good. Schenk finished seventh last year here and maybe this is the week the Purdue alum breaks through for his first career victory.
➤ Winner: Akshay Bhatia. After winning the Texas Open the week before the Masters, Bhatia struggled for a minute before putting it together and is trending in the right direction — T22 at Memorial, T16 at U.S. Open and T5 at the Travelers. I like him to win, but I wonder how he holds up. This will be his eighth tournament in a row.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
Detroit, MI
Detroit Tigers Get To Avoid One Part of Free Agency This Offseason
The Detroit Tigers have some interesting questions to answer in free agency, but none of them have to deal with players that have expiring contracts.
As Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report highlighted the top free agent that each MLB team needs to focus on re-signing, he pointed out that the Tigers have no one to bring back.
“Detroit literally has zero free agents. They traded both Jack Flaherty and Mark Canha—both of whom will be free agents this offseason—before going on a rather shocking run to the postseason,” said Kelly.
They decided to part ways with their expiring contracts at the deadline and focus on giving their young stars a chance to shine. And that is exactly what they did.
Now, they can focus solely on who to add to the roster, rather than examining how important a departing free agent was to the success.
General manager Jeff Greenberg and company in the front office aren’t expected to open up their checkbooks too much in free agency, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in signing anyone.
While Juan Soto is going to be a conversation that every team has, the Tigers get to see which players compliment their burgeoning stars rather than bringing in a face of the franchise for hundreds of millions of dollars.
While they don’t have anyone directly leaving from the roster, a reunion with a previously traded player may make sense.
Detroit sent Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline. It was a win-win deal that led to the Tigers acquiring some valuable prospects and the Dodgers got a pitcher that was at least solid down the stretch of the regular season to set up their World Series run.
The problem with Flaherty’s future relationship with Los Angeles, was that he sort of crumbled once they got into the postseason.
He finished with a 7.36 ERA, giving up at least four runs twice and getting shelled for eight another time. While he didn’t ruin their chances to win, re-signing him won’t be too high of a priority.
Coming back to Detroit would make sense for Flaherty, as it seemed that he found something that worked for him. He posted a 2.95 ERA with 11.9 K/9 over 18 starts with the team.
The Tigers also clearly need more real starting pitching for a postseason run of its own. So a reunion of this type shouldn’t be ruled out of the equation.
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Predictions: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Nolan Bianchi, John Niyo, Richard Silva and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer predictions for Sunday’s Lions-Packers game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin (4:25 p.m., Fox/97.1).
▶ Nolan Bianchi: It’s not just the NFC North lead on the line this weekend; the Lions are also trying to protect their standing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Lambeau isn’t as scary as it once was. Case in point: Despite this being a matchup of two teams with six wins, the Lions are favorites despite this being their first outdoor game this season. The Lions should probably expect a slight regression in their recent offensive output (especially with some heavy rain in the forecast), but this offense was built to win in these conditions. Even with a battered and bruised defense, the Lions have been the definition of complementary football this season. I’m expecting them to find a win — be it by offense, defense, or special teams — when it counts. Pick: Lions, 23-20
▶ John Niyo: The Lions have won two in a row at Lambeau, including a cold-weather statement at the end of the 2022 season. But this will be their first outdoor game this season, and the rainy weather will be a factor. That shouldn’t be a huge problem for a Lions offense that’s built to win in the elements with a reliable — and explosive — run game. The Packers can run it, too, especially if it’s Malik Willis starting at quarterback for an injured Jordan Love. And there has been some slippage in the Lions’ run defense with all the injuries up front. Still, on a day where ball security may be the difference, the Lions probably have the edge. Green Bay and Detroit rank 1-2 in the NFL in takeaways, but the Lions have only committed five turnovers all season. Pick: Lions, 27-24
▶ Richard Silva: This is what it’s all about. Lambeau Field, divisional implications and a couple of historic franchises duking it out in November. In a contest where weather could be an issue — there’s rain in the forecast for Sunday — expect both teams to lean heavily on the run game. The Packers rank No. 5 in rush yards per game at 156.9, and the Lions aren’t too far behind at No. 6, with 156.7. Detroit does have a better run defense, however, which could make the difference. If Jared Goff continues to take care of the ball — he has a 12-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his last five games — the Lions should be in good shape. That won’t be easy, though, with Xavier McKinney and his NFL-high six interceptions roaming in the back end. Pick: Lions, 24-20
▶ Bob Wojnowski: These trips to Green Bay keep getting bigger and bigger, and this one is for control of the NFC North. The Packers (6-2) technically need it more than the Lions (6-1), but that never slows Dan Campbell’s bunch. Green Bay has roughed up Jared Goff, at times, and the Lions’ staunch offensive line has been a little leaky, allowing four sacks against the Titans. That’s all the incentive Goff, Ben Johnson and the rest of the NFL’s best offense need. With Green Bay’s offensive line and quarterback situation (Jordan Love? Malik Willis?) jumbled by injuries, the Lions will focus on powerful back Josh Jacobs, and feature their own powerful backs. It doesn’t take much to inspire David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and on the wet (but unfrozen) tundra of Lambeau Field, running is always the best option. If they protect the ball — and Kalif Raymond unleashes another 90-yard punt return! — the Lions will avenge last year’s Thanksgiving loss and stay firmly atop the NFC. Pick: Lions, 27-20
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