The under-powered Detroit Tigers’ offensive struggles are fueled by an over-reliance on hitting home runs. This misplaced focus has prevented the team from being more competitive in many games, and put an additional strain on a weak bullpen. When the times were good in the first half of the 2025 season, the Motown team used a next man up approach to great effect, but were unable to replicate that offense for the second half, or for the majority of the 2026 season to date. To solve the Detroit Tigers offensive struggles, the team will have to get better at scoring runs in different ways, but most of all, more runs.
Lack of Home Runs Key to Detroit Tigers Offensive Struggles
Entering the season, much was expected of Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson. Others were expected to also contribute heavily, for example Dillon Dingler and Kerry Carpenter, but Torkelson and especially Greene are crucial for providing power in this lineup. However, neither has lived up to expectations. As of the end of play on Sunday, Greene has hit nine in 2026, while Torkelson has managed to launch 13. While both have improved during the month of June, they are both lagging behind the pace that fans and AJ Hinch would want. Although not a home run hitter, it is notable that Colt Keith has hit just five home runs this year, with his first coming on June 11.
Collectively, the Tigers have hit 95 home runs, which is good for 16th in MLB, so thoroughly middle of the road. Meanwhile, they have driven in 328 runs, tied with San Francisco for fifth-worst in MLB, and are collectively hitting .235 with runners in scoring position, which is also the fifth-worst in baseball. These numbers illustrate the fact that the Detroit Tigers offensive struggles are down to trying to score all of their runs with the long ball, which they simply don’t have the players to do. There is a trickle down effect that is happening as well; with the team not able to break games open by scoring runs in different ways there are playing in close games everyday, which strains the top bullpen arms.
The bullpen was already a weakness independent of the Detroit Tigers offensive struggles, but the lack of run production exacerbates it. The team has created 33 total save opportunities in 2026, but only converted 15 of those opportunities. Veteran Kenley Jansen has been on the mound for a few already, tallying four blown saves to go with just nine saves. Beyond him, the team has Will Vest as a trusted high-leverage arm, but he owns a 6.08 ERA, which is a bit misleading but still shows his struggles so far this season.
What Comes Next
The 2026 season is looking more and more lost as the team continues to stew near the bottom of the standings. The team has several players who could, and probably should, be traded, plus a few exciting young players who seem almost ready for the big leagues. The aforementioned Jansen could tempt a contender, the likes of Gleyber Torres and Jack Flaherty certainly have trade value, and of course Tarik Skubal will continue to get all the trade buzz up to either the deadline, or a deal is made. Meanwhile, Max Clark continues to look like the center fielder of the future for Detroit, and Max Anderson would compliment this infield well.
Beyond these moves, the Tigers need to solve their collective inability to score runs in many different ways. Playing in pitcher-friendly Comerica Park demands a team has more in their arsenal than just the long ball. Management also needs to finally address the bullpen which has been a weakness for at least 18 months. Neither seem like they could be accomplished in the six weeks left until the deadline, so the writing may be on the wall already for the 2026 season.
Main Photo: Duane Burleson- Imagn Images
