By AJ Hammerle
7 June 2026
Detroit's Disaster: Breaking Down the Tigers' Stunning 27-39 Start
Just two months into the 2026 season, the Detroit Tigers have gone from World Series contender to near the bottom of the American League standings. They sit 12 games under .500 with a record of 27-39. So how did a team with such high hopes turn into a team looking for answers? Let's find out.
The Injuries
Maybe the biggest story of the Tigers' season is the early plague of the injury bug that has swept through the clubhouse. The Tigers, at most, have had $113,231,700 worth of players on their injured list; for reference, their total payroll for 2026 is $243.7 million.
They currently have 14 players on the IL, and none of these is more important than back-to-back Cy Young Award Winner Tarik Skubal. Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and after surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, Skubal has been out for roughly a month. The Tigers have a league-worst 9-23 record over the stretch of Skubal's absence.
Other key pitchers who join Skubal on the IL are 2026 breakout candidate and former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize, former top 100 prospect Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson, and relievers Brant Hurter and future Hall of Fame Closer Kenley Jansen.
It's not just the pitchers who are out; it's also key Tigers hitters who are currently on the IL. For example, 2025 All-Star shortstop Javier Baez and everyday starter center fielder Parker Meadows.
The Offense
In 2025, the Tigers were ranked in the top half of the league in all hitting stats, and with the addition of top Prospect Kevin McGongile, the Tigers were expected to do more of the same hitting-wise.
But in 2026, Detroit has struggled on offense, to put it politely; the team currently ranks 23rd out of 30 in team batting average, 23rd out of 30 in hits, 25th out of 30 in runs, and ranked 26th in team RBI’s.
Players like 2025 All-Star Zach McKinstry, who batted .259, and Wenceel Perez, who batted .244 last year, find themselves struggling early on this year, with both batting well under .200. Less-used guys like Jahmai Jones and Matt Vierling have also seen their average drop a ton compared to their 2025 campaign.
The Tigers had options this offseason to sign or trade a premier bat, but elected not to do so. They instead relied on the platoon bats from last season to come back and contribute the same way, and that has simply not happened.
The Bullpen
The Tigers bullpen was the group the most unsure about coming into 2026, having the 17th-ranked bullpen ERA in 2025. The addition of future MLB Hall of Fame closer
Kenley Jansen was supposed to help bolster the back end of games for the Tigers.
Instead, the Tigers currently lead the entire league in blown saves with 16, only 60 games into the season, and Jansen currently is tied for second-to-last in the MLB with 4 blown saves this year, tied with teammate Kyle Finnegan.
The Tigers sit 21st in the latest bullpen ERA rankings with a 4.29 ERA, and with the aforementioned injuries to Jansen and Hurter.
The Brightspots
Although the Tigers haven’t had the best of starts, some things could give them hope for a late-season turnaround like 2024.
The first is rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle. McGonigle has gotten off to a hot start, batting .291, which is second on the Tigers and second in the league among all rookie hitters. He also leads the Tigers in many categories such as WAR, triples, walks, and stolen bases.
He just recently signed an eight-year, $150 million contract with the Tigers, keeping him in Detroit through at least 2034.
Another bright spot is All-Star Riley Greene, who has been on a tear to open 2026, batting .305, which lands him first on the team and 10th in the league. He also leads the team in hits, RBI’s, slugging, on-base percent, age, and doubles. The Tigers would like to keep Greene on the roster long-term, and at 25 years old, he definitely fits the Tigers' youth.
Now What?
The Tigers are firmly out of the playoffs and don’t look like they are going to turn around what has already become a disappointing season, so now what?
The start is getting everyone healthy. It's easier said than done, but with just under half of payroll on the IL, it's tough for any team to win. With Kerry Carpenter and Gleyber Torres coming back recently, the Tigers are making strides towards health.
There is still one big thing that looms in the organization, and that is what they will do with Tarik Skubal.
Reports have started to come out from MLB insiders, including Ken Rosenthal, saying, "a growing belief exists within the industry that Skubal is a goner.”
Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and many more World Series contenders are keeping their eye on the back-to-back Cy Young winner.
This is the Tigers' last year with Skubal’s contract under club control, and with them failing to get a long-term deal done last offseason, it appears all signs point towards a move off of him.
The Tigers will ask for a hefty haul of top prospects, MLB-ready bats, and relief pitchers in exchange for Skubal, and it’s very clear that if they wanna get the organization back on track, they will have to move Skubal.