Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar. Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for Dec. 19.

Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar. Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for Dec. 18.

SEATTLE -- Tigers manager A.J. Hinch laid all his cards on the table Friday night with Kerry Carpenter batting leadoff. There were no tricks up his sleeve or sleight of hand, just a simple challenge laid down to the Mariners. Once Hinch noticed during Games 1 and 2 that Seattle

SEATTLE -- Gleyber Torres needs surgery. Following Friday’s 3-2 loss in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, Torres announced that he will undergo a procedure to repair a sports hernia on his right side. The Tigers second baseman said the issue has caused him significant pain for most

SEATTLE -- Tarik Skubal entered from T-Mobile Park's left-field bullpen just before Friday’s winner-take-all Game 5 of the ALDS, looking a lot like a heavyweight prizefighter headed to the ring for a title bout. The stalk, the focus, the entourage behind him led by batterymate Dillon Dingler … it was

DETROIT -- On the eve of one of the biggest games of their careers with Detroit, the Tigers are embracing the adrenaline that catapulted them into Friday’s win-or-go-home Game 5 showdown against the Mariners for the right to advance to the AL Championship Series. And because now is the time

DETROIT -- Riley Greene put every ounce of frustration and power he had into the swing.

DETROIT -- The Tigers are ready. They’ve been ready, tensed and coiled and prepared to pounce, waiting for the slightest nudge to unleash on the postseason what Detroit faithful witnessed during the first half of the regular season.

DETROIT -- Tied at 1-all in the American League Division Series after a tough Game 2 loss behind Tarik Skubal on Sunday night, Detroit will turn to Jack Flaherty to get back on track during Game 3 against the Mariners on Tuesday. Casey Mize is on tap for Game 4,

DETROIT -- When the bullpen phone rings at Comerica Park, the chatter beyond the left-field wall falls silent. Heads turn. Then, the guessing games begin.

SEATTLE -- Kerry Carpenter loves hitting at T-Mobile Park. He also loves hitting against George Kirby. Carpenter had four big reasons to want to face Seattle’s righty at T-Mobile Park, with Detroit down a run in the fifth inning and an early postseason advantage on the line: He entered the

SEATTLE -- Please don’t take it personally, Seattle. Tarik Skubal has a special spot in his heart for the city he’s often said is a second home to him. It represents the one place that took a chance on a high school kid from Kingman, Ariz., all those years ago.

SEATTLE -- As Troy Melton fielded questions from the podium before Friday’s workouts, his answers projected “business as usual.” But the smile that threatened at the corners of his mouth betrayed the right-hander in a big way. Really, though, can anyone blame him? The 24-year-old was a starter in his

DETROIT -- Ahhh, sweet relief. After all the bangups, matchups, travel and delays, the White Sox are finally free to kick up their feet. And let’s be honest: They’ve earned it.

DETROIT -- Martín Pérez didn’t have his best stuff on Saturday night, and neither did the White Sox. And while sometimes there’s still enough good to scrape by on, that was not the case at Comerica Park, where Chicago was stumped by a Cy Young contender during a 6-0 loss

DETROIT -- Dominic Fletcher slept through the first few calls on Friday morning. It was only fitting that the guy who’d spent his entire summer working to create an opportunity for himself missed the memo when it finally arrived. Fletcher was able to chuckle at the irony later that same

DETROIT -- When manager Matt Quatraro was asked what he thought of the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate clubbing a record 10 home runs on Saturday night, he quipped, “I’d like to do that today.”

DETROIT -- Long before the first Pasquatch sighting was reported in Royals Nation, Vinnie Pasquantino was just another fresh-faced kid trying to make his mark on Major League Baseball. The 11th-round Draft pick was two games into his MLB career and remained hitless but hopeful as Kansas City touched down

DETROIT -- Royals rookie Ryan Bergert had been there before. More than a few times, in fact. He was in control of the scenario, his team was rolling and he was on the line for his first win with his new club. Until he wasn’t.

Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar. Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for Aug. 13:

DETROIT -- The Mariners have had a lot thrown at them this season, from injuries, to extra innings, to -- no joke -- a fire alarm going off at the team hotel at 4:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. To emerge with one victory at Comerica Park this weekend would’ve

DETROIT -- One of the best intangibles to develop in baseball is a short memory. Commit a crucial error? Tomorrow’s a new day. Give up a grand slam? There’s always the next start. Slump at the plate? Plenty more ABs on the way. This can be applied to a team

DETROIT -- In a sport where nearly anything can happen at any point during any game, one thing seems destined to live on repeat each night: Cal Raleigh is going to hit homers wherever he goes. Seattle’s slugger struck again on Friday, mashing his 37th and 38th home runs during

DETROIT -- After Randy Arozarena scuffled at the plate throughout much of the first half, he was not surprised to be left off the American League All-Star roster. But he also knew that people had seen what he’d done lately, and so, he waited.

DETROIT -- While the All-Star break is still a few weeks away, the A’s hit the official middle of their 162-game season on Tuesday at Comerica Park. Through rose-colored glasses, we can celebrate that the Athletics are playing .500 ball in the two games since, having split the final two