Putting into perspective how awful the Tigers have been in the second half

Fresh off of getting swept against the Cleveland Guardians, the Detroit Tigers are feeling more pressure than they have at any point this season. While they are a virtual lock to make the postseason, their grasp on the top spot in the American League Central is loosening rapidly – and they are running out of time to right the ship.

Detroit is 85-68 overall and still in first place in the division, which is the good news. But after a very strong first half, the Tigers have cooled off significantly. They are a below-.500 team in the second half, going 26-30 in 56 games since the All-Star break.

Detroit held a sizable lead in the AL Central earlier in the season – upwards of 15.5 games over the Guardians at one point. But by Thursday, that margin has shrunk to just 3.5 games. That means what once looked like a comfortable division race is now a much more precarious situation.

How the Tigers' second-half decline changes the narrative of their 2025 season

Putting Detroit's decline into perspective, there are several layers of concern. Because of the Tigers' slump, their chances of locking up the best possible playoff position (division, top seed, etc.) are in legitimate jeopardy. Every lost series or game, especially against weaker opponents, plunges them into dangerous territory.

The Tigers haven’t been helped by pitching injuries and bullpen wear and tear. That compounds performance slumps caused by fatigue, inability to finish games and giving up leads. Plus, as Detroit slips, Cleveland is surging – so the Tigers' mistakes are being punished more heavily.

The pressure on the Tigers is higher than it has been at any point this season. Every series, every start from key pitchers, every bullpen outing carries more weight. If Detroit has a prayer at rebounding and stabilizing in the final stretch, ace Tarik Skubal needs to stay healthy, and the bullpen needs to handle high-leverage — something they've struggled greatly with for months now.

So, how bad is it? Well, "bad” is relative. It’s not a full-blown collapse, but it is a major loss of momentum. Detroit hasn’t imploded, but they still have three games left against Cleveland, who controls their own destiny at the moment. The decline from a hot first half to a sub-.500 second half suggests the team is being exposed — and depth weaknesses are leading to an inability to maintain consistency.