The News’ Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Detroit Tigers’ 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday:
One thing I loved
Rain delays used to make me sad. Rainouts were the worst. When I was a kid and a Little League game got washed away, I’d cry. When we’d attend a Tigers game that ended up getting postponed, I was inconsolable.
Good news: I’ve matured. (A little.)
And, this year, my 47th on Earth, I’m starting to really enjoy a good rain delay — thanks to the always-entertaining Rain Delay Questions segment on Detroit SportsNet. And Friday’s installment, during a nearly two-hour delay/fireworks show at Great American Ball Park, was classic, with Jason Benetti, Johnny Kane and Bobby Scales.
The highlights were some spot-on impressions by Scales (Lou Piniella) and Benetti (Sean McDonough).
Check ’em out:
Random obscure impressions. 🤣 #RainDelayQuestionspic.twitter.com/jpX0JDjFtc
— Detroit SportsNet (@WatchDSN) April 25, 2026
One thing I didn’t
Do the Tigers have a Jack Flaherty problem?
The veteran Tigers starter has struggled all season to throw strikes. He has walked 22 batters and hit four batters in 25.1 innings. And when he did finally throw some strikes Saturday, he got tagged for five hits, including three homers. Flaherty lasted just two innings, tied for the third-shortest start of his major-league career.
In Flaherty’s last two starts, he’s lasted just 5.1 innings total. In three of Flaherty’s six starts this season, he hasn’t gotten through the fifth inning. His WHIP is 1.78. His ERA is 5.33.
Flaherty picked up his $20-million option for 2026, after going 8-15 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.280 WHIP in 2025.
That ball was jacked. @ellylacocoa18pic.twitter.com/RVNstLdOoC
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 25, 2026
Three stars
(Season total in parentheses)
▶ Burch Smith
▶ Spencer Torkelson (4)
▶ Riley Greene (6)
Player of the game
(Season total in parentheses)
▶ Kevin McGonigle (4)
let’s McGo 💣 pic.twitter.com/yzDBOM6rl5
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 25, 2026
Tigers on national TV
The Tigers are 0-3 on national TV in 2026:
- Sunday, April 5: Lost to Cardinals, 5-3 (Peacock)
- Friday, April 17: Lost to Red Sox, 1-0 in 10 innings (Apple TV)
- Saturday, April 25: Lost to Reds, 9-2 (Fox)
Next Tigers game
▶ Game 29: Tigers at Reds, 1:40 Sunday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1
ICYMI: Yesterday’s Tigers recap
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers recap, Game 28: One thing I loved, one thing I didn’t