FLUSHING, NY — The Detroit Tigers, with high expectations coming into 2026, are tied for last place in the American League Central division at 19-25. The same could be said for the New York Mets, projected to be one of the top teams in baseball during spring training, in the basement of the NL East at 18-25.
Last season, they both started the season on fire and faltered down the stretch with the Tigers having a record collapse, a 15.5 game blown division lead and the Mets missing the postseason entirely.
Both teams were in dire straits heading into their three game set at Citi Field which began earlier this week with the Mets entering the series, 15-25, and the Tigers at 19-22. Detroit, like the Mets, have suffered from the injury bug—most notably losing their ace Tarik Skubal with loose body parts in his left elbow.
Tarik Skubal underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow earlier this month and is expected to be back at some point in the second half of the regular season – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
In game one of the series, the Mets won 10-2 as Detroit’s starting pitcher Jack Flaherty didn’t get out of the fourth inning.
Another disappointing tale with the Tigers this year is that their lineup is ranked 14th in batting average (.242) and 10th in OPS of (.715). Their pitching staff is 17th in strikeouts with 363 and their ERA of 3.93 is 13th in MLB. A very much a middle of the road team right now, which these numbers indicate.
Their rotation depth has been tested early with Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Troy Melton, and Justin Verlander all missing time while the bullpen has held up for the most part. Like Kenely Jansen who struck out the side Wednesday night in the bottom of the ninth of a tied up ballgame.
The Tigers bullpen was up against it Wednesday after pitching 5.1 innings the night before on Tuesday although Framber Valdez did an admirable job saving them with 106 pitches. The Dominican left-hander pitched deep into the seventh despite walking two batters and giving up five hits.
Framber Valdez was tough as nails Wednesday night vs. the Mets, tossing 6.2 innings of two run ball with seven strikeouts – Image Credit: MLB
Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch tried to give Valdez the leeway to get out of the inning, but with Bo Bichette coming up and two runners on, that was it.
For Valdez, it was a great response after the 32-year-old was suspended for his actions of hitting Trevor Story of the Boston Red Sox. He struck out seven Mets on the night and battled out of three jams to prevent more runs from scoring.
From the beginning, Valdez had his breaking stuff working, producing nine ground outs with all seven of his strikeouts coming from his offspeed arsenal.
“Valdez was excellent. The start mattered to him, getting back into his season,” Hinch told the media postgame on Wednesday night. “He worked hard to get into the game, and I thought he threw the ball extremely well. We asked a ton out of him tonight, and he delivered,”
The Tigers lost the game 3-2 in the 10th with their offense disappearing after putting up two early runs in the first and their pitching unable to hold up after. The offense has also not been helped by missing Gleyber Torres and Javier Báez due to injuries, as well as Kerry Carpenter who recently suffered a shoulder injury.
The injury bug hit the Tigers to begin the 2026 season with many of their marquee names on the Injured List such as Gleyber Torres and Javier Báez among many others – Image Credit: L.C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
Detroit’s three most promising hitters in the early going are Riley Greene (.943 OPS), Kevin McGonigle (.843 OPS), and Dillon Dingler (.763 OPS).
McGonigle, moved around on the left side of the infield from third base and shortstop, is the most impressive considering his debut was on Opening Day back in late-March. The 21-year-old could very well end up winning AL Rookie of the Year although he has some stiff competition. On the other end, Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean, 24, is also in the running for the NL Rookie of the Year. The two faced off against each other Thursday afternoon with McLean getting the better hand with two strikeouts on McGonigle (0-for-4 overall against him).
Thursday was a bad 9-4 loss for the Tigers with their pitching giving up five home runs and having a 3-0 lead in the first quickly erased. It also featured bad base running, and defense to boot.
“We are getting beat up a little bit,” Hinch noted after Detroit got swept Thursday. “We are wearing it and it’s no fun. Obviously, we’ve had some really rough series. We haven’t clicked on all cylinders. We are not healthy and we have a game tomorrow. The schedule is relentless when you are down, but you must respond and keep playing.”
Bottom line, the Tigers entered Thursday just four games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first in the AL Central and trail the final AL Wild Card spot by two games. It’s not an ideal start to the season but with some players returning and with Skubal most likely not lost for the season Detroit still has every chance to win the division or secure a Wild Card in the American League.
After getting swept in Queens, the Tigers, dropping to 19-25, will have to get right quick to not fall too far out of the AL Central and AL Wild Card race – Image Credit: L.C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
They are fortunate to play in the AL Central opposed to the Mets who are already 12 games behind the Atlanta Braves and seven games out of the final NL Wild Card spot. That’s not to say that the Tigers don’t have to play better to get in because this average brand of baseball hardly screams October.
“Guys are chasing some things, trying to do more than they’re used to,” said utilityman Zach McKinstry. “Trying to fill some gaps with some guys missing.”
McKinstry’s quote from the three-game sweep speaks to the point that the Tigers are feeling it at this point of the year.
Will they rebound out of it? Time can only tell.
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