The Detroit Tigers wasted little time in stamping their status as the American League Central’s best team. Powered by a versatile lineup and another Cy Young-caliber campaign from Tarik Skubal, Detroit seamlessly continued its torrid streak from the end of the 2024 season. The Tigers had to battle for a playoff spot last season. But in what has proven to be a down year for the AL Central, it seemed as though Detroit would be able to coast to a division win in 2025. But amid a down September and a late charge by the Cleveland Guardians, the Tigers’ hopes of a division title are suddenly in danger.
Tigers’ Woeful Stretch Could Prove Costly
On Sept 10, with just 16 games remaining in their season, the Tigers held a 9.5 game over the Guardians in the AL Central.
It is now down to 3 games.
The Tigers have gone 1-7 and Cleveland has gone 7-0 and leading tonight.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 20, 2025
It’s understandable why many believed the Tigers would win their first AL Central title since 2014. Young talents, including outfielder Wenceel Perez and 3B/DH Colt Keith, truly found their groove in the batter’s box. First baseman Spencer Torkelson and Javier Báez, who has played all over the field this year, revitalized their careers. Riley Greene and Skubal continued to showcase their superstar talent. By the All-Star break, Detroit boasted an 11 1/2-game advantage over the Minnesota Twins as the rest of the division floundered behind them.
The Tigers finished just over .500 over the next two months, finishing 27-26 in July and August combined. But even a concerning mid-summer losing streak wasn’t enough for another team to make a notable leap in the standings. At the end of August, Detroit still possessed the best record in the American League. A 9 1/2-game lead over the Kansas City Royals gave them plenty of cushion. Less than three weeks later, though, the team’s contention status is under question.
Tigers’ September Has Been One to Forget
Even earlier in the season, detractors were unmoved by the Tigers’ impressive record. They were convinced that Detroit didn’t have the firepower on either side of the ball to compete with other World Series hopefuls in a seven-game series. The Tigers’ recent stretch has only strengthened those claims. Detroit has gone just 5-10 in September, dropping all but one series.
Skubal still has a legitimate chance to win his second-straight AL Cy Young, but the rest of Detroit’s rotation hasn’t backed him up. The Tigers’ team ERA has ballooned to 4.97 in September after the cast of pitchers impressed in August. As a result, the franchise continues to scramble to find the best arms for the postseason — a task that should have finished a month ago.
Detroit’s offense hasn’t been up to par, either. The team has scored just 20 runs over its last eight games, dropping seven of them. This skid may have been an easier pill to swallow had the Tigers not suffered a sweep at the hands of the Guardians. After once being an afterthought in the AL playoff picture, the Guardians are breathing down Detroit’s neck, now trailing by just three games.
Final Stretch Will Determine Team’s Fate
With three series and eight games remaining, every run suddenly matters for Detroit. No bout will matter more than the Tigers’ three-game rematch with the Guardians in Cleveland, though. Both teams’ penultimate regular-season series will go a long way in determining the division’s victor.
Detroit powered its way to a wild-card berth in 2024 after it looked like the franchise was headed for another lost season. They have proven that the late-season spark was no fluke in 2025. If the team fails to right the ship in the campaign’s final week, though, the Detroit Tigers could be looking at an extremely disappointing, but admittedly ironic turn of events — likely one that results in another early postseason exit.
Main Photo Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
