The Detroit Tigers hadn't lost more than three games in a row — until this skid. "We were the last team to lose four games in a row," A.J. Hinch said.
ARLINGTON, TX — The season-worst losing streak continues.
The Detroit Tigers hadn't lost more than three games in a row (and that only twice) until their current skid, which reached five games after a 2-0 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday, July 18, at Globe Life Field.
Still, the Tigers (59-39) own MLB's best record.
"We were the last team to lose four games in a row," manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday's loss. "It happens to everybody because this league is tough."
After Friday's loss, second baseman Gleyber Torres showed his leadership by addressing the five-game losing streak after his 25-game on-base streak ended.
"I think it's part of the season," Torres said. "I don't think it's going to be forever. We have to figure out a way to play better. But it's part of the season. It sounds weird, but I prefer this happening right now to happening in September. We are still in a good position in our division. We don't take anything for granted. It's just the way it's happening right now. We have to keep playing. We have another opportunity tomorrow. We'll try to attack, make that adjustment and just try to win the game."
The Los Angeles Dodgers — who entered Saturday as the third-best team in MLB, trailing the Tigers by one game and Chicago Cubs by a half-game — lost seven games in a row, from July 4-11.
Torres, who signed a one-year, $15 million contract in free agency, has competed in 973 games across his eight-year MLB career with the New York Yankees (2018-24) and the Tigers (2025). The 28-year-old is a three-time All-Star, making the Midsummer Classic in 2018, 2019 and 2025.
In 2025, Torres continues to show up as a leader behind the scenes.
He typically leads by example, but when he talks, everyone in the clubhouse listens. The Tigers appreciate his presence, both on and off the field.
"Good times, bad times, anytime in between, he's been very steady," Hinch said Saturday, July 19, before the second game of the series against the Rangers. "It's kind of like how his at-bats go. He's very steady. His work in the field? Very steady. I applaud him for taking that leadership opportunity."
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What's wrong with Tommy Kahnle?
What is the biggest difference in right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle from 2024 to 2025?
It's his swing-and-miss rate.
In 2024, Kahnle had a 36% whiff rate – including a 38.9% whiff rate on changeups, which he threw 72.8% of the time –and a 2.11 ERA for the Yankees. In 2025, he has a 22.8% whiff rate, a 24.7% whiff rate on 85% changeups and a 4.85 ERA for the Tigers.
"I think it's an execution issue," Hinch said. "It's been largely damaging hits at the worst time imaginable. He's getting beat at the biggest moments of the game."
The Tigers signed Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract.
His inability to miss bats at an elite rate as a Tiger is finally catching up to him, as he has registered just one strikeout in his last eight games for a 3.1% strikeout rate — compared to a 23.8% strikeout rate in his first 33 games.
The overall performance has plummeted from a 1.46 ERA in March, April and May to a 10.67 ERA in June and July.
"We can't celebrate the first four months of him pitching a certain way, take three outings, and all of a sudden, blame one thing or another," Hinch said. "It's been rough to watch him go through it. He's going to have better times, but this has been a bad week."
Tarik Skubal reacts to Moon Mammoths
The Erie Seawolves — the Double-A affiliate of the Tigers — played as their new alternate identity, the Moon Mammoths, for the first time Saturday at UMPC Park in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The four-game rebrand of the SeaWolves was created by comedian John Oliver on his late-night comedy show "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver."
The Moon Mammoths logo is a purple wooly mammoth wearing a space helmet, surrounded by light blue sparkles. The colors: black, purple, white and light blue.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who pitched for Erie in 2019, had a positive reaction to the Moon Mammoths.
"Pretty cool," Skubal said. "I'd rock it."
"I think it's fun, whether they look cool or not," Skubal added. "You wear them, and if they look bad, it's funny, and if they look cool, it's cool. That's what the minor leagues are about."
After Saturday, the SeaWolves will play as the Moon Mammoths for three more games: Aug. 19, Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gleyber Torres responds to Detroit Tigers' losing streak
Category: Baseball
