The Tigers fell to the Rangers 2-0 on July 19 as Reese Olson's gem was wasted. Corey Seager's late double sinks Detroit, extending their losing streak to five.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that's not the start to the second half anyone in Detroit was hoping for. After a much-needed All-Star break, the Tigers came out flat, dropping the series opener to the Texas Rangers 2-0. The loss marks their fifth straight defeat, and it followed a painfully familiar script: solid starting pitching undone by a silent offense and a late-inning bullpen breakdown.
Despite their fifth straight loss, the Tigers remain atop the AL Central with a 59-39 record, holding an 11-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians.
For seven innings, it looked like the Tigers might just grind one out. Starter Reese Olson was masterful, matching the Rangers pitch for pitch in a tense, scoreless affair. But the wheels came off in the bottom of the eighth. Reliever Tommy Kahnle, who took the loss to fall to 1-3, surrendered a decisive two-run double to Corey Seager that proved to be the only offense the Rangers needed. It's a tough pill to swallow when a great start goes to waste.
The bigger story is the ice-cold offense. The lineup managed a paltry four hits all night, failing to string anything together against the Rangers' staff. Stars like Riley Greene (.281 AVG) and Zach McKinstry (.283 AVG), who have carried the team for much of the season, couldn't find a breakthrough. This offensive disappearing act is the primary driver of the current five-game skid, and manager AJ Hinch needs to find a way to wake up the bats, and fast.
Before we all hit the panic button, let's take a deep breath and look at the standings. Yes, five losses in a row stings. But the Tigers (59-39) still hold a massive 11-game lead in the AL Central. This cushion is exactly why you build a lead in the first half. Help may also be on the way for the bullpen, as the team officially signed hard-throwing righty Tanner Rainey yesterday. While he wasn't available for tonight's game, his high-velocity arm is a welcome addition to a relief corps that showed a crack in the armor tonight.
The Tigers will look to stop the bleeding tomorrow and salvage the series in Arlington. One win is all it takes to turn the momentum around. The pitching has largely been there, but the question remains: when will this potent offense return to form? Finding that answer is the key to getting back on track and reminding the league why they're still the team to beat in the Central.
