DETROIT >> The Tigers still have some work to do on this season-long, three-city road trip. They finish with three games against the Rockies in the high altitude of Coors Field beginning Tuesday night.

But they woke up Monday, a hard-earned off day after grinding through 23 games in 24 days, with the best record in the American League (22-13) and the best run differential in baseball (plus-63).

There have been long stretches this season when the pitching carried the offense. But on the first seven days of this trip, the bats have been booming. Maybe we should call it, with apologies to Bob Dylan, The Rolling Thunder Review. The Tigers averaged 8.1 runs and pounded out 20 homers in the first seven games.

Production is coming from top (Kerry Carpenter with four hits, a homer and five RBIs Sunday) to bottom (Trey Sweeney, four hits, a homer, six RBIs). And all points in between (Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith and Javier Báez have combined for 12 homers and 22 RBIs).And, again, it’s been a full-roster effort. And by full roster, we mean the 40-man roster. This is really the remarkable part of this fast start. President Scott Harris has built a deep and diverse roster of players with specific skill sets and manager AJ Hinch is a master at plugging players into optimum roles and situations.

The Tigers faced two right-handed-heavy lineups in Houston and Anaheim. So, they reached down to Triple-A Toledo and fortified the bullpen with right-handed relievers Chase Lee and Tyler Owens.

And Hinch used them both. Owens, who was optioned back to Toledo to make room for Beau Brieske, pitched back-to-back scoreless ninth innings in Anaheim.

And Lee, Hinch went to him Friday night in the seventh inning of a 1-1 game. Lee responded with a clean, two-strikeout inning.

Hinch’s explanation for having the confidence to use Lee in that spot was an insight into how and why this whole moving-parts thing is working.

“I believe before I see it,” Hinch said. “In general, that’s the way I operate. These players are up here for a reason. You can’t be up here for free. You can’t always have a soft landing.

“You can have a specific spot, but eventually, it’s going to come up when you have to do your part.”

Believe before you see. Hinch believed that Báez could be useful in center field before he had him take reps out there this spring. Hinch believed Matt Vierling was a good enough athlete to play first base in Game 5 of the American League Division Series last year, without seeing him play there all season.

It goes on and on. And that belief, besides providing players with more opportunities, also builds their own self-belief.

It’s been a pretty good formula.

While we have a day to pause before this Rolling Thunder Review resumes in high altitude (buckle up), let’s tie up some loose ends:

… The Tigers decided to part ways with veteran Kenta Maeda last week, a move that was becoming increasingly inevitable because it was becoming increasingly hypocritical to the club’s maxim of “putting the best 26 players on the field to win today’s game.”

Some will view Harris’ willingness to eat the remainder of the $10 million on Maeda’s contract as proof that the club is in it to win it. But that wasn’t the intent. That shouldn’t even be in dispute right now. It’s clear that they are.

They didn’t designate Maeda for assignment to send a message. They did it to upgrade the bullpen.

There was another element to this, though, that was significant. It was an admission by the Tigers that they’d made a mistake. Not so much that they signed Maeda in the first place, but that they failed to do enough to help him get back on track.

Yes, the old saying is true about leading a horse to water (you can’t make him drink), and maybe at 37, Maeda’s time as an effective pitcher was up.

But, listening to Hinch and Harris discuss it, that’s not how they see it. Developing and fixing pitchers is a hallmark of this front office and they were disappointed they failed with Maeda. You can bet this will be a cautionary tale to be studied and learned from going forward.

… Outfielder Manny Margot is a week into his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo. A decision point is coming and as things stand right now, it’s probably going to be which right-handed hitting outfielder do the Tigers want — Margot or Justyn-Henry Malloy?

Margot is the better defender but doesn’t have the same offensive upside as Malloy. Malloy has done some good things (.342 on-base percentage) but he’s been scuffling (4 for 32, 10 strikeouts, seven walks, in his last 18 games).

The signing of Margot has been a head-scratcher from the start. He’s on a two-way contract, getting $1.3 million if he’s in the majors, $200,000 if he’s in the minors.

But they signed him at a time they desperately needed a healthy center fielder and it was made clear right away that he wasn’t going to play center except in a pinch.

To me, giving Malloy a longer leash to get back on track is more valuable than whatever short-term bump Margot would provide.

When Vierling comes back from the IL, the early guess is Jace Jung, who is still searching for it at the plate, will be optioned back.

Zach McKinstry got the start at third base Sunday, leaving Jung on the bench against a right-handed starter. McKinstry could go back to sharing third with Andy Ibáñez, which is the way the season started.

Vierling was expected to play more in the outfield than infield when he comes back. He could slot back into right field, with Báez playing so well in center.

And when Parker Meadows returns, hopefully by the end of this month, whoever is still here, Malloy or Margot, likely will be sent out.

But that’s assuming there are no injuries or other maladies in the meantime.

Lots of moving parts.

… Alex Cobb’s rehab has been transferred back to Detroit from Lakeland. He’s throwing bullpens and live bullpens. Ever so slowly, he’s trending toward his rehab assignment.

Right now, clearly, there is no spot for him in the rotation. But at the end of May and into June, there will be another stretch of 23 games in 24 days.

There might be a window to add sixth starter, though that might be tricky with Cobb, who wouldn’t have the same optionality as Keider Montero, who served in that role last month. Cobb would have to sign off on being assigned to Toledo.

Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, out since 2023 with elbow and hip surgeries, is also throwing to hitters in Lakeland. At some point this summer, he will be another option for the rotation.

The point is, the season is long. And both Cobb and Gipson-Long could find themselves in positions to contribute at some point. This is a good problem for the Tigers.