The Tigers had a chance to keep Wednesday night manageable, even after George Springer’s two-run single gave the Blue Jays a lead in the previous inning. Then the sixth turned ugly fast.
Drew Sommers opened the frame by getting his first batter to ground out, but the defense behind him fell apart immediately after that. John Peck committed two straight errors and Kevin McGonigle added another, a stretch that led to two unearned runs crossing before the inning was over. Peck was charged with both a fielding error and a throwing error, with the throw to second sailing into foul territory, while McGonigle was credited with a fielding error.
It was the first time the Tigers had committed three consecutive errors since July 1, 2006. It also felt painfully familiar.
That’s the frustrating part of this season for Detroit: every time the team seems close to turning a corner, something drags it right back. The offense had already shown it could rescue a game earlier in the series, rallying after being no-hit through six in the opener. And with a six-game winning streak still alive before Wednesday night, the Tigers were hanging around in the Wild Card picture in spite of everything.
Now they sit five games out of a Wild Card spot, with four games coming against the White Sox, who just dropped into that final position after losing a series to the Guardians. If Detroit somehow sweeps that set, the standings could look very different by Monday.
But that’s the catch. The Tigers can’t afford nights like the one in Toronto if they want any shot at making this late push matter.
Mid-August offered another opening when they were one win away from getting back to .500 for the first time since early May, and they couldn’t finish the job. A three-game stretch against the Guardians and a three-game set against the White Sox could have changed the shape of the AL Central, but instead Detroit lost four of six.
The path is still there. The margin for error is almost gone. And after Wednesday’s defensive mess, the Tigers were reminded exactly why they’ve been in this position all season.
In Other News...
Tigers Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Than One White Sox Loss
Framber Valdez gave the Tigers a chance to settle in Tuesday night, piling up strikeouts over five innings, but Detroit still left with a 3-1 loss to the White Sox in the opener of the series. Chicago jumped in front early on Munetaka Murakamis three-run homer, and even after the Tigers pushed across a run in the third, they never really got back to even.
The bigger issue for Detroit is what the loss hints at beyond a single game: an offense that could not fully capitalize on a solid outing from the mound. In a series where the Tigers needed a clean reset, they instead spent the night trying to erase an early hole, and now have to answer whether this was just a rough start or the beginning of a more familiar problem. [Read more 🡒]
Curtis Granderson Is Returning To Tigers Coverage In Chicago
The Tigers are heading into a four-game series in Chicago after a loss to the Blue Jays, and the broadcast setup for the second game should add a familiar voice to the mix. Former Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson will join the clubs radio coverage during the third and fourth innings, giving listeners on both the Tigers and White Sox broadcasts a chance to hear from one of the more recognizable names to come through the organization.
Grandersons return to the airwaves also carries a local twist, since he was drafted by Detroit and grew up in Chicago, where his ties have remained strong off the field as well. Through the Grand Kids Foundation, he has supported youth initiatives in Illinois, so this isnt just a brief reunion with an old team. It is another reminder of how often Grandersons path continues to circle back to the cities that shaped his career. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Verlander Could Give Tigers Fans One Last Comerica Moment
Justin Verlander is heading toward the finish line on a career that already has him headed for Cooperstown, and there may be one more familiar stop left before he calls it a career. After returning to the Tigers on a one-year deal following his time with the San Francisco Giants, the veteran right-hander has spent this season working back from injuries, with the likelihood building that he will get one final start at Comerica Park.
For Tigers fans, that would turn the clubs last series against Pittsburgh into more than just a late-season matchup. Detroit is planning to celebrate Verlanders career during that homestand, giving the organization a chance to salute one of its defining pitchers while leaving open the possibility of one more moment on the mound in front of the home crowd. [Read more 🡒]