Tigers receive bold AL Central prediction that would make Tarik Skubal trade awkward

The Detroit Tigers traded away Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, signifying the team's intention to look towards the future rather than go all-in for the 2026 season.

But since the deadline, they've actually made up some ground in the AL postseason hunt and now sit 0.5 games back in the Wild Card. Their trades of Skubal and Mize already look a bit odd now that they're competing for the postseason.

However, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer is predicting the Tigers won't simply get a Wild Card spot, but will win the AL Central. If this actually were to happen, it would make their trade of Skubal and Mize look very awkward in retrospect.

Tigers predicted to win AL Central and make Skubal trade look awkward

"The Detroit Tigers will win the AL Central," Rymer predicts. "... Speaking of tough schedule, though, Detroit has it easier than the White Sox the rest of the wya. And the teams on the Tigers' schedule are in for a real challenge."

Rymer is predicting the Tigers will win the AL Central, which would be a wild outcome after they traded their two best pitchers, Skubal and Mize, at the deadline.

But such an outcome is very much in play for the Tigers this season. The Tigers are 59-60 on the year, and only 2.5 games back in the AL Central behind the 61-57 Chicago White Sox.

MORE: Tigers feared Tarik Skubal’s trade market would disappear if they waited too long to trade him

One of the more notable statistics for this Tigers team is that they are sporting an American League-best 89-run differential. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and White Sox are all worse than the Tigers.

What makes this prediction seem all the more likely is that their schedule isn't that hard the rest of the way. August is a little tricky, but if they can survive series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rays, their September is very appealing.

Five games against the Minnesota Twins, four against the Cleveland Guardians and White Sox, and three against the Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays,  Washington Nationals, and Pittsburgh Pirates to close out the season.

MORE: Yankees ‘dabbled’ in trade talks for Tarik Skubal despite not willing to deal George Lombard Jr.

Those are some winnable series to close out the year for the Tigers, and with how well Troy Melton is pitching lately, and the return of Jackson Jobe alongside Framber Valdez, Keider Montero, and a strong offense, this team might actually win the AL Central.

It's not an unrealistic prediction at all for the Tigers, but what it would mean is that their trade of Skubal and Mize looks a bit awkward in retrospect. Would they really have traded them both if they believed they could win the AL Central?

Though another angle is that the Tigers can make the postseason, go on a run, and still get the massive return packages for Mize and Skubal that they got this summer. It could be the best of both worlds for the Tigers this season.

More MLB news:

• Phillies receive slightly worrying 65% playoff odds projection from ESPN
• Red Sox get 8.2% chance to win World Series, which is more than Yankees’ odds
• Dodgers prospect Kendall George to undergo knee surgery months after viral bat dog incident
• Dave Dombrowski reveals why Phillies didn't trade for a righty-hitting outfielder
• Brewers ‘toyed’ with idea of trading for Padres closer Mason Miller