The Detroit Tigers are atop the American League Central after 113 games this season, with a seven-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians. But their recent performances have been cause for concern.
For ESPN MLB writer Bradford Doolittle, the main cause for concern in Detroit is the offense’s inconsistency. While their trade deadline additions in the bullpen and rotation have been solid, the offense hasn’t been the best.
“When it comes to the overall pecking order, Detroit has come back to the pack.” Doolittle writes. “Yet, the Tigers’ offensive regression has been the primary culprit for their recent dip.”
Over their last 30 games, the Tigers rank 23rd in baseball in team OPS at .695. While there are some good clubs with worse offensive ranks, like the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros, the Tigers’ struggles are still apparent.
However, despite their team’s low OPS, they have hit 28 home runs in the same timeframe, which ranks 16th in baseball. They are 24th in runs scored and hits, with 91 and 181, respectively.
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Detroit is 27th in doubles with 31 and has the 5th most strikeouts with 214 over the last month. One of the most glaring statistics during this timeframe is that Detroit is tied for last place in on-base percentage at .292.
While their slugging percentage is middle of the pack, the Tigers have struggled to get one base. Dating back to July 1st, the beginning of this 30-game stretch, the Tigers have gone 13-17, with multiple winning and losing streaks.
Six of their wins came before July 9th, and in the games since then, Detroit has gone 7-15. Their struggles have caused the Tigers to fall out of the top spot in the AL, but there’s still plenty of time to turn things around.
Doolittle wasn’t overly concerned over the lackluster offensive production, saying, “If Detroit returns to its early-season offensive exploits, though, it won’t matter.” While they’ve struggled lately, the team has what it takes to turn things around.
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