The 2023 MLB playoffs started two weeks ago without the Detroit Tigers, who’d been officially eliminated about a week beforehand and effectively eliminated long before that. Still, taking a look at the baseball being played this October, it’s difficult to escape the feeling that the Tigers had been a 2023 playoff team.

Infield/Catcher
Willy Adames*
Willi Castro
Kody Clemens
James McCann
Isaac Paredes

Outfield
Nick Castellanos
Avisail Garcia
Robbie Grossman
J.D. Martinez

Pitcher
Andrew Chafin
Chad Green*
Joe Jimenez
Michael Lorenzen
Joe Mantiply
Matt Moore
Erasmo Ramirez
Max Scherzer
Gregory Soto
Julio Teheran
Caleb Thielbar*
Justin Verlander
Justin Wilson

All of the foregoing players were rostered on 2023 MLB teams that made the playoffs and previously played for the Tigers or *one of their farm teams. Don’t let anyone tell you they can’t build a winner in Detroit. Also don’t let anyone forget that the AL East put three teams in the 2023 MLB playoffs, and those three teams posted a collective 0-7 postseason record this year.