Tigers lose 8-4 to Mariners on July 13 despite Riley Greene's HR. Read how a tough loss contrasts with a franchise-record six All-Stars heading to Atlanta.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that's one way to limp into the All-Star break. A gut-punch 8-4 loss to the Mariners on Sunday completed a demoralizing sweep and stretched the Tigers' losing streak to a season-high four games. But as the sting of the loss fades, a brighter reality sets in: Detroit is sending a franchise-record six players to the All-Star Game in Atlanta, a testament to a first half that was, until this weekend, overwhelmingly positive.
The Tigers will send a franchise-record six players to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta, including starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Sunday's finale in Seattle felt like a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The Tigers scraped together an early lead on two unearned runs, and it looked like Riley Greene might play the hero yet again. His 24th home run of the season gave Detroit a late lead, a jolt of energy the team desperately needed. But the bullpen, a source of strength for so much of the season, crumbled at the worst possible time. Tommy Kahnle entered in the ninth and couldn't record a single out, surrendering three runs that sealed the 8-4 loss and the sweep. It was a deflating end to a series the team would rather forget.
Now for the good news, and it's significant. Forget the four-game skid for a moment and focus on this: six Detroit Tigers are All-Stars. Six! That's a new franchise record, a clear sign that the rebuild is bearing serious fruit. Led by ace Tarik Skubal, who will represent the Motor City on the mound, this contingent is proof of the high-end talent driving the team's success. While the timing is awkward, this achievement is the real story of the first half and a massive point of pride for the organization and its fans.
The bullpen's struggles on Sunday highlight the importance of pitching depth, and a positive development emerged on that front. Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, sidelined with neck stiffness since late June, began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday. Getting his arm back in the mix for the second half would be a welcome boost for a pitching staff that will need all hands on deck for the playoff push.
So, take a deep breath, Tigers fans. The All-Star break is here, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Let's celebrate the six All-Stars representing Detroit in Atlanta and hope the rest of the team can use this time to reset and recharge. The second half is a clean slate, and the mission is simple: snap this losing streak and get back to the brand of baseball that made this team a contender in the first place.
