Days of Roar: A Free Press Sports Detroit Tigers Podcast

As Evan Petzold returns from paternity leave, the Detroit Tigers hold the best record in the American League (22-13) and lead MLB with a plus-63 run differential through 35 games in the 2025 season. They've also launched a league-leading 20 home runs since April 28, doing so in the first seven games of their 10-game road trip. What has stood out most over the first 35 games? And what should we exp...

After a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last week, the Tigers went on to clinch series wins against the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and sweep the Baltimore Orioles. With Evan still away handling baby Petzold duties, Mark brings back Freep high school sports reporter and current pinch Tigers beat reporter Jared Ramsey to help discuss what factors are leading to the Tigers’ stro...

With Evan still out on the PL (paternity leave), Mark brings in Detroit Free Press high school sports reporter Jared Ramsey, who’s been covering the Tigers for the past week. The guys talk the team’s series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and series win over the Kansas City Royals. Jared and Mark cover the strong starts from Casey Mike, Jackson Jobe and how Spencer Torkelson is continuin...

With a 4-2 week, the Detroit Tigers have remained competitive while missing some key pieces due to injuries. With Evan still away, Mark brings on a cavalcade of content creators that cover the organization at the major and minor league levels. To start off the show, manager of Bless You Boys Brandon Day helps Mark summarize what factors aid the team in winning series. After the break, along with B...

With Evan away with this week, Mark brings in pinch co-host Bobby Scales to help break down a strong week for the Detroit Tigers. The guys recap the team’s series win against the Seattle Mariners and the homestead sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Mark and Bobby analyze the continuation of the team’s 2024 grind culture and highlight the noteworthy contributions from Spencer Torkelson, Ri...

The Detroit Tigers lost all three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there's more to the story. Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh dive into the team's culture, Spencer Torkelson's resurgence and other key takeaways from the first series of the 2025 season. They also preview the upcoming matchups against the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox, including Jackson Jobe's first MLB start. Tigers radi...

Opening Day has arrived! The Detroit Tigers play the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, beginning the 2025 season. Evan and Mark discuss the final roster moves (Spencer Torkelson in, Justyn-Henry Malloy out), another outfield injury (Wenceel Pérez), Ryan Kreidler as the primary center fielder and a flurry of predictions in this special "Days of Roar"...

With Opening Day just three days away, the Detroit Tigers still have tough decisions to make to finalize their 26-man roster before facing the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Three position players — Spencer Torkelson, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jahmai Jones — are vying for one spot, while relievers Andrew Chafin, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter are battling for a role in the bullpen. The roster...

Producer's note: After recording, the Detroit Tigers optioned Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo, which means he won't make the Tigers' Opening Day roster. Keep that in mind as you listen to this episode. With 10 days until Opening Day, the position battles for the Tigers in spring training have heated up to the max. The Tigers have 10 of 13 position players locked in, three of five starting pitchers lo...

Jason Benetti — the TV voice of the Detroit Tigers and Michigan Sportscaster of the Year — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including his 2025 preview and 2024 reflections, both for the broadcast team and the baseball team. Benetti breaks down his iconic call during the 2024 postseason run: "A city that doesn't care about the odds has a baseball team to...

The Detroit Tigers have wrapped up their first week of spring training games, with just 24 days left until Opening Day on March 27 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Tigers TV analyst Andy Dirks joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to break down the upcoming season, both for the team and the broadcast booth. He answers these key questions, among other things: What's it like working with Jason Benetti...

The first two weeks of spring training are in the books, and the Detroit Tigers are off to an undefeated start with a 2-0 record in the Grapefruit League. As roster battles heat up, key storylines emerge, including Jace Jung’s push for the third base job, Trey Sweeney’s situation at shortstop, and Justyn-Henry Malloy’s power bat. The Tigers are hoping Jung can lock down third bas...

Spring training is underway for the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There were many takeaways in the first five days of camp, including Riley Greene's diet, Spencer Torkelson's comments, Casey Mize's sliders and Jace Jung's opportunity, among other things. Most notably, the Tigers have a businesslike vibe behind the scenes without letting their emotions get too high or too low. The same was t...

The Boston Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers offered six years, $171.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. But Bregman turned down a long-term contract from the Tigers in favor of a short-term contract from the Red Sox, giving him $40 million per se...

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast as pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. Skubal talks about his 2024 season, the development of his pitches, and his expectations for the 2025 season, along with discussing fatherhood, lessons learned from former teammate Jordan Zimmerman...

The countdown is on: Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers report in nine days to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. This past week, the Tigers signed starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, but third baseman Alex Bregman remains a free agent. The Tigers are still interested in signing Bregman, even...

The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract with an opt-out clause after the first season. He pitched for the Tigers last season, posting a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts, before the Tigers traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline for two prospects. Evan and Mark break down the Flaherty reunion, how president of baseball operations Scott...

Producer note: This podcast has been updated with comments from president of baseball operations Scott Harris. The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle to a 1-year, $7.75 million contract. Evan and Mark break down the signing, discuss the current state of the Tigers' bullpen and explain how the Kahnle signing impacts the Alex Bregman sweepstakes in this special "Days of Roar" b...

In this episode of "Days of Roar," Detroit Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe joins the show to discuss his 2024 MLB debut, offseason adjustments for two-strike counts, pitch development and personal/team goals for the 2025 season, among many other things. As one of MLB's top five prospects, Jobe is projected to join the Tigers' Opening Day starting rotation in 2025. Evan and Mark also dive into the...

Former Detroit Tigers player Carlos Guillén — a three-time All-Star who played 14 MLB seasons — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss teammate Ichiro Suzuki joining the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Guillén also talks about three other names in the Hall of Fame conversation: C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Does A-Rod deserve to be...

This episode of "Days of Roar" features two special guests: Detroit Tigers third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling and Baseball America prospect insider Ben Badler. To start the show, Evan and Mark discuss Tigers legend Justin Verlander signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Interestingly, this is the same deal — in terms of years and money — that Alex C...

The New Year is underway, and with it, Evan and Mark have New Year's resolutions for the Detroit Tigers in the 2025 calendar year. The resolutions include Tarik Skubal, Kevin McGonigle, the American League Central and making a big splash via trade or free agency. What does all that mean? Listen to find out. After the break, Robert Ford, the radio voice of the Houston Astros, joins "Days of Roar" t...

Happy New Year, from the "Days of Roar" podcast! In the first episode of 2025, Evan and Mark break down the Detroit Tigers signing Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract, including his on-field performance, his $500,000 assignment bonus, and his goal of getting more than $100 million in free agency next offseason. After signing Torres, the Tigers still need another right-handed hitter...

In a Christmas edition, Evan and Mark discuss what Santa needs to bring the Detroit Tigers. The wish list includes the health of star players, some luck, a lot of player development and a right-handed hitter — namely Alex Bregman. Numerous first basemen have been traded or signed in free agency, but the Tigers haven't been involved in those moves. What does that mean for Spencer Torkelson? F...

The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract, adding the 37-year-old veteran to their starting rotation alongside Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe. But is Cobb the right move? Evan and Mark explore the pros and cons of the Cobb signing, along with the Tigers' need to upgrade at third base or first base to contend for the American League Central in...