The Detroit Tigers came out looking like the predators their name promises at the New York Yankees Stadium. They roared their way and beat New York in back-to-back home games by 10 runs or more. Tuesday’s 12-2 rout, followed by Wednesday’s 11-1, silenced the pinstripes completely. It made unwanted history for the Yankees—a franchise that’s been around for near about 125 years!

For Detroit, the timing couldn’t be better—they, after all, had a topsy-turvy season. There were stretches where the offense had gone flat and the pitching looked shaky. But somehow, at the right moment, they got hot, and in New York, every element clicked. The Tigers’ lineup exploded, and their starters held their end of the bargain.

Casey Mize struck out eight, clearly one of his best outings this season, and Jack Flaherty followed with five shutout innings. They looked as ready as a team can be for October. Even offensively, after slumping for so long in the second half, the bats woke up. They managed to pile on 38 runs over the last five games and rank third in baseball during that stretch. But even then, not everyone thinks Detroit is all promises.

Rob Parker chimed in to say, without sugarcoating, “The Tigers won two big games in the Bronx; that hasn’t happened in Yankee history. Not going to discount it… But coming into the series, did you see the Tigers? They got swept by the A’s; they lost to bad teams in the last three series. Don’t you remember that stretch? That stretch when they lost 12 out of 13? That’s going to be their postseason stretch! Watch!”

So, while on the surface it might look great, there are certain red flags looming. And there is a warning attached to this momentum, and it makes sense. Now, Tarik Skubal, for example, has been a dominant force on the roster. He is on the way to getting his second straight AL Cy Young Award. This is huge because it’s a feat not seen since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. But what beyond Skubal? After Skubal, the rotation is definitely looking thin. Flaherty has gone through immense inconsistency, and Alex Cobb never threw a pitch this season. Not to mention Reese Olson’s breakout year ended with a shoulder strain, and veterans like Mize and Charlie Morton have sad ERAs north of 5.00.

So, yes, maybe Parker’s warning makes sense. Sure, Detroit may have made history against the Yankees and looked every bit a contender, but if the Tigers don’t find stability in the team, then the postseason magic may fade—as soon as it got there. Lucky for them, a certain 24-year-old might be waking up from a slump!

Colt Keith could be back in his A game at the right time for the Tigers!

Sure, the Detroit Tigers flat-out embarrassed the Yankees at their home turf. For the Tiger fans, it was as good as watching postseason baseball. But honestly, amidst that series, there was a subsequent storyline building, and it came in the final moments of Wednesday night’s win. Up 9-1 in the ninth, Cole Keith came off the bench, and he delivered a swing that might end up meaning more than what the box score says.

The 24-year-old drilled his first career pinch-hit home run. It was a towering shot that pushed their lead to 11-1. And for sure, the game was well in Detroit’s hands, but coming from Keith, this was huge. This is because he has been in a slump lately, hitting just .171 with little power over his last 11 games. And that kind of downfall does weigh heavily, especially when the postseason is over everyone’s head at this moment.

However, one swing can flip the switch, and that’s what the Detroit Tigers are hoping happens here. The bigger picture of Keith offers plenty of promise. His .253/.330/.415 season line is a clear upgrade from his rookie season, and he has already passed his last season’s numbers. Not to mention, he has shown defensive versatility and made the switch to third base, giving the Tigers the stability they needed.

If you ask about his best stretches, then May and August were clearly his best. But he hasn’t been able to be consistent, and if that towering smash is a sign that he is back, then teams better watch out for him. Because Detroit with him won’t just look good—they will be making some serious October noise.