The Detroit Tigers’ six-game winning streak ended Saturday night with a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park, and now the series comes down to one more heavyweight matchup before the All-Star break.
Detroit couldn’t get much going against Cristopher Sánchez. Casey Mize didn’t have his best stuff, and the offense never found a real rhythm. Eduardo Valencia kept showing he belongs in the big leagues, but that wasn’t enough to keep the Tigers’ streak alive.
Now the focus shifts to Sunday afternoon, where the Tigers will try to grab their fourth straight series win with Tarik Skubal on the mound. The left-hander has been sharp lately, posting a 1.64 ERA and 3.02 FIP over his last two starts. His most recent outing came at home against the Athletics, when he worked five innings, allowed one run, and picked up his fifth win of the season in a 6-2 Tigers victory.
Philadelphia isn’t backing down, though. The Phillies are sending Zack Wheeler out with a series win in their sights.
Wheeler was dominant in his last start against the Cincinnati Reds, throwing seven innings of one-run ball on four hits, including one home run, while striking out a season-high 14 batters. That effort gave him his 10th quality start of 2026 and his ninth win in a 4-1 Phillies victory.
It sets up a classic Sunday duel between two of the best arms in the game, with both clubs looking to head into the break on a high note.
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Tarik Skubals True Feelings On Tigers Just Changed This Deadline Story
Tarik Skubals name has hovered over the deadline conversation for weeks, but the latest update changes the tone around Detroits ace in a meaningful way. According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Skubal has made clear to close friends that he sees the Tigers as a real postseason team, which helps explain why the clubs summer outlook feels so tied to his presence.
Even with that kind of belief, the situation is hardly settled. Skubal does not have a no-trade clause, so if Detroit decides to shift into sell mode before the deadline, it still has the ability to move him. For a team trying to balance its present push with the value of a frontline starter, that leaves one of the biggest names on the roster at the center of a decision that could reshape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris May Have Finally Found Bullpen Help Tigers Fans Trust
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AJ Hinch has already shown a willingness to use Waguespack in different spots, which matters on a staff that has needed flexibility as much as it has needed stability. His path has taken him through multiple leagues, including a stop in Japans NPB, and that kind of experience can matter when the innings get tense and the margin for error gets thin. For a bullpen that has spent too much time searching for answers, Waguespack is at least giving the Tigers a reason to believe one might be sticking. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Day 1 Draft Approach Has Fans Wondering What Changed
The Tigers opening night in the 2026 MLB Draft leaned heavily toward college talent, with three of their four Day 1 picks coming from college programs. Detroit added Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey, Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc, Florida Gulf Coast pitcher Evan Dempsey and prep shortstop Dominic Pellegrin, a mix that stood out enough to get fans asking whether the front office had changed its approach.
Rob Metzler and Mark Conner said the class was shaped by the board and the best players available rather than any new philosophy. Still, the combination of a college-heavy haul and a first pick in Flukey, whose 2026 season was shortened by a rib stress fracture, gives the Tigers a Day 1 group that looks more like a value-driven bet than a clean organizational statement, leaving the bigger picture to come into focus as the draft unfolds. [Read more 🡒]