The Mitten Report

It seems like forever ago, but it was a mere three weeks ago that the Detroit Tigers were 1.5 GB in the AL Central and sitting clean in the playoff picture with the 3rd AL Wild Card spot. At 60-61, the city of Detroit was buzzing and getting ready for another push towards the playoffs just like the previous two seasons. So it seems far-fetched that the Tigers now sit at 63-75, winning only 3 of their last 17 games. Sitting 7 GB in the AL Wild Card and 10 GB in the AL Central. There are many reasons as to which this has happened but I think we can dive into a select few and break down what truly happened.

1. Injuries

To say that the Detroit Tigers have been an injury-riddled team would be an understatement. I’m going to list a few players and when they last played for the Tigers.

• OF Kerry Carpenter: July 26th
• SP Jack Flaherty: July 20th
• OF Riley Greene: August 11th (Returned September 1st)
• RP Brant Hurter: May 22nd
• OF Parker Meadows: April 9th
• UTL Wenceel Perez: June 16th
• RP Will Vest: June 27th
• SP Reese Olsen: Out for year
• SP Justin Verlander: March 30th

Not to mention Gleyber Torres missing multiple months and Jackson Jobe not being available until August. That is an extensive list of players who were expected to be contributors coming into the 2026 season. This misfortune is completely unexpected, but not an excuse for the way the Tigers have been playing recently.

2. Offensive Woes

If I asked you to name the top three hitters on the Tigers roster in terms of OPS (min. 25 AB) over the last 15 days, do you think you could do it? The answer to that question: Hao-Yu Lee (.783), Max Clark (.682), and Javier Baez (.657). Don’t get me wrong, these guys have been very serviceable and somewhat pleasantly surprising players this year. But, those are not the names you would expect to hear. You would expect Kevin McGonigle (.593), Gleyber Torres (.529), Colt Keith (.392), and Dillon Dingler (.359).

Dillon Dingler has officially fallen off a cliff. I believe he is the biggest reason for the Tigers’ offensive issues over the last month. This was a guy a mere two months ago who was being called an AL MVP candidate, along with the likes of Yordan Alvarez and Junior Caminero. Dinglers has paired up a scorching hot first-half, with an abysmal second-half.

• Dingler’s first 87 games: .831 OPS, 19 HR, 60 RBI
• Dingler’s last 41 games: .675 OPS, 7 HR, 22 RBI

Dingler was a major factor and one of the reasons this team had such a hot stretch in June/July. His lack of production is brutally mistimed for this team. Kevin McGonigle and Gleyber Torres have also steadily cooled down over the last month, with a respective OPS of .646 and .662.

3. Bullpen Struggles

The Tigers’ bullpen was crucial for playoff runs that occurred over the last two seasons. The bullpen was arguably the strongest part of the team. The Tigers’ bullpen ranks middle of the road in the AL in terms of ERA. But it has been time and time again where the Tiger’s bullpen blows a lead late. Detroit ranks 2nd in the MLB when it comes to blown saves (28). They also own 6th, 7th, and 8th inning ERAs of 4.50, 3.98, and 5.15.

The Tigers signed Kenley Jansen to a 1-year, $11 million contract with hopes he would shore up the back of the bullpen. In 2026, the 38-year-old has struggled with a 4.04 ERA, 5 blown saves in 22 opportunities, and a measly 2.05 K/BB ratio. Another relief pitcher who has struggled is Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan owns a similar 4.07 ERA, a 1.63 WHIP, and 8 blowns saves in 10 opportunities! He also places last in the MLB amongst relief pitchers with a -0.8 WAR. These two pieces were supposed to make this bullpen better and are making things a heck of a lot worse while also being paid over $20 million dollars for their efforts.

4. Trade deadline

Tarik Skubal was a leader. Love him or hate him, everyone knows deep down that this team’s vibe has been very different since he was traded to the Dodgers. He is arguably the best pitcher on the planet when healthy. Do I think the Tigers made the right decision trading Skubal? Yes. Do I think it has silently caused plenty of issues? Also, yes. Losing someone like Skubal is going to have repercussions no matter what. He was the heart and soul of this team’s success over the last few years.

Casey Mize was also a big part of this entire operation. This was a number-one overall pick for the organization and was sneaky good over the last few years. He was an All-Star in 2025, going 14-6 with a 3.87 ERA. In 2026, he had 16 starts to the tune of a 4-6 record and a 2.70 ERA. He almost feels like a guy we pulled the plug on too early. He definitely had his issues, especially when it came to staying healthy. He has also struggled mightily in his 5 starts with the Padres since being traded with a 1-2 record and a mighty high 6.26 ERA. Don’t’ get me wrong Troy Melton has been fabulous for the Tigers this year, but losing two all-star caliber pitchers like that is going to have its impact both mentally and spiritually for this team.

Well, it seems as though all hope has been lost for the Tigers in 2026. They would need nothing short of a miracle to earn a playoff bid this year. With all things considered, I really hope that miracle doesn’t come. I think that this front office needs a wake-up call or reality check. GM Scott Harris needs to understand that this team is never going to succeed until the money is spent. I personally don’t think that this team is going to succeed unless the bats begin to outweigh the pitching talent. Playing half of your games in Comerica Park, you need to have the bats to be able to put up runs. I’m sick of seeing guys like Zach McKinstry, Ben Malgeri, and Matt Vierling at the bottom of the lineup sheet. The Tigers are never going to consistently win with gaping holes in their lineup. The faster the front office understands that, the sooner we see wins stack up in Detroit.