I am doing a series where I offer up three fantasy baseball questions for every MLB team. I look at under-the-radar stats, playing time projections, projected roles, and off-season news to try and highlight the issues facing you in your 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. We’ll do this thing in divisional order, and this time around I’ll consider three questions for the 2025 Detroit Tigers.
3 Fantasy Baseball Questions for the 2025 Detroit Tigers
Will Riley Greene Take the Next Step?
Based on my early drafts, it’s clear which way I’m going on Riley Greene. The fact that his price is still reasonable and the outfield is weaker this season only helps the case. But if I can grab Greene in the pick 100-12o range, I’m in every time.
The former first-round pick entered the league with potential and upside. It’s important to remember that Greene will be playing this season at age 24 so that certainly works in his favor. Yes, Greene doesn’t steal bases, but once you get past the first few rounds, that matters less.
Health has been an issue to this point, and he played a career-high 137 games last year. The outfielder hit .262 with 24 home runs, 74 RBI, 82 runs scored. As his ISO jumped from .159 to .217, that’s just the beginning for Greene. With a 13.4% barrel rate and .479 SLG (.477 xSLG), we can feel good about Greene’s plate skills.
Is Kerry Carpenter a 30-Home-Run Hitter?
Regular playing time is what Kerry Carpenter. Well that and health. After a back injury and being platooned last year, Kerry Carpenter played just 87 games in 2024, but he had just 32 plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Entering 2025, Carpenter is fully healthy and the Tigers’ plan is to give him playing time against Southpaws.
Just one of Carpenter’s 18 home runs came without the platoon advantage last year, so it’s easy to project what additional playing time (both games and at-bats) could do for him.
There’s legitimate power here as Carpenter posted a .303 ISO last year. When you combine that with an elite 16.9% barrel rate, there’s a lot to like about Carpenter’s upside.
Can Reese Olson Take the Next Step?
While he’s not going to reach Tarik Skubal levels in 2025, there is the potential for Reese Olson to emerge as a true number two this season. Last year, Olson had a 3.53 ERA in 22 starts while striking out 8.09 batters per nine innings. If it’s initial optimism you’re after, Olson had a 3.17 FIP although based on his 3.64 xERA, we’re right in line with where he should be.
Olson is already starting from a good place as far as his ERA, but there are signs that point to improved and continued success. Last year, Olson generated a 50.6% ground ball rate which helped to limit the damage. Not only did hitters struggle to get the ball in the air, but when they did, it often didn’t leave the park. Allowing just 0.56 home runs per nine innings certainly played a large part in Olson’s success. It was also possible in part due to opposing hitters generating just a 5.5% barrel rate against Olson.
Now that he’s entering his third major league season, Olson is ready to take the next step. His metrics certainly support it. Now if he could only increase his strikeout rate we’d be in business.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
