Solo blasts from Kerry Carpenter and Kevin McGonigle couldn't ignite a stagnant Detroit lineup, as the Tigers lost Gleyber Torres to injury and surrendered another series lead.
Just like that, the once-prominent bats of the Tigers that showcased power Detroit hadn't seen in years—launching 30 home runs over the first 12 games of June—have regressed back to their usual ways.
After taking Game 1 of the series, the Tigers mustered just four total runs over the final two games, lost a key offensive contributor in Gleyber Torres to the injured list, and dropped each of the final two contests against Houston by identical 4-2 scores. The losses secured Detroit's second straight series defeat and all but put a dagger in the hopes of Tigers fans still holding onto postseason dreams.
The season grows longer by the day, and once again it was another wasted outing from one of Detroit's top pitchers.
Wednesday marked the return of Casey Mize after his originally scheduled start was rained out in Cleveland. Mize was activated earlier in the day as part of the corresponding roster move that sent Torres to the injured list.
Mize was charged with his fourth loss of the season as his record fell to 2-4, but the stat line doesn't tell the full story. The right-hander allowed just two runs on his own, though he was charged with a third after Kyle Finnegan entered in relief and couldn't strand an inherited runner.
Mize ultimately lasted 4.2 innings, allowing six hits while keeping the Tigers within striking distance. Unfortunately, with Detroit's offense looking more like the unit that struggled through May than the one that caught fire to begin June, allowing more than a run or two often feels like a guaranteed loss.
Finnegan was brought in to keep the deficit manageable, but he did what far too many Tigers pitchers have done this season—allow a costly run. Detroit closed out the game with Frew Sommers and Jacob Waguespack, who combined to retire seven straight Astros hitters, but it was all for nothing.
The Tigers managed just one hit through six innings.
Their second hit came in the seventh inning when Kerry Carpenter launched a solo home run—his 10th of the season—to cut Houston's lead to 4-1.
Detroit's third and final hit of the afternoon was another solo shot, this time from rookie phenom Kevin McGonigle. His sixth home run of the season brought the Tigers within two runs and added another highlight to what has become an impressive Rookie of the Year campaign. McGonigle continues to make a strong case not only for postseason awards but also for an All-Star selection in his rookie season.
Still, when the rest of the lineup goes 0-for-19, there simply isn't much that can happen outside of pitching a near-perfect game.
Tigers fans endured the brutal month of May before being rewarded with a scorching start to June. That hot streak was accompanied by comments from general manager Scott Harris indicating that Tarik Skubal was not for sale, signaling that Detroit intended to lean into the "win-now" mentality that surrounded this season from the start.
Now, however, the Tigers sit at 30-44 and 14 games under .500 with just seven games remaining until the halfway point of the season.
Detroit has fallen 9.5 games behind the division leader and sits 6.5 games out of the final American League Wild Card spot.
A.J. Hinch appears to have little pulse on his own team, and even with Skubal, Mize, and Justin Verlander returning from the injured list, it may not matter. Unless the Tigers can suddenly pull off Shohei Ohtani-type magic and start helping themselves at the plate by consistently launching home runs—something reminiscent of Daniel Norris' memorable blast at Wrigley Field back in 2018—they'll need to throw shutouts every night and hope the bullpen doesn't do what it has become accustomed to doing: allowing costly runs in every close game.
Other than that, the Tigers' season is drowning, and the rescue boat appears to be miles away.
