Detroit Tigers: Five Ugly Stats to Make You Cringe

Detroit Tigers fans who listen to the Tigers SRD podcast should be familiar with our Inside the Numbers segment. For those who don’t listen, we simply pick a number or two and then explain the context. It’s not groundbreaking, but we like to think it’s a good way to add some heft to stats that might otherwise go by unnoticed.

We’ve decided to bring the Inside the Numbers segment to readers, too, beginning with a five-pack of ugly stats to help explain Detroit’s rough start

Detroit Tigers Stat: -28

That is Detroit’s run differential through 16 games this season, the worst in baseball. If you’re unfamiliar with run differential, it’s simply the difference between the number of runs a team has scored and the runs they have allowed. A team’s run differential is a quick and dirty way to determine their overall talent and luck.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, for instance, currently have a +37 run differential, which seems to match their 13-4 record. The Seattle Mariners have a 11-6 record with a -2 run differential, suggesting some early good luck. The Chicago White Sox are just 8-9 despite a +11 run differential, suggesting some bad luck and/or bullpen issues.

The 2021 Detroit Tigers probably aren’t the worst team in baseball. But it seems like, for the 5th consecutive season, they’ll be battling to avoid that ugly distinction.