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Tigers' Faltering Lead in AL Central Sparks Comeback Bid
9 Aug
Summary
- Detroit Tigers' once-dominant lead in AL Central diminishing
- Cleveland Guardians making a charge up the standings
- Center field production a major weakness for the Tigers
As of August 9th, 2025, the Detroit Tigers' once-dominant lead in the American League Central is starting to diminish. The team has been struggling in the second half of the season, allowing the Cleveland Guardians to make a charge up the standings and close the gap.
The Tigers' own missteps have contributed to this tightening race. Their offense and bullpen have both been heading in the wrong direction of late, with the center field position proving to be a particularly glaring weakness. The team has tried multiple players in center, including Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, Javier Báez, and Wenceel Pérez, but none have been able to solidify the spot.
The Tigers did try to address their bullpen issues at the trade deadline, acquiring Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals. However, it seems more should have been done to bolster the relief corps. The team's struggles have allowed the Guardians to make a push, and the race in the AL Central is now very much up for grabs.
The Tigers will have an opportunity to turn things around in their upcoming series, as their schedule is set to get a bit easier. If they can string together a nice stretch, they may be able to regain their once-dominant position atop the division. But for now, the race is on, and the Tigers will need to find solutions to their recent problems to hold off the surging Guardians.
