Tigers just sounded trade deadline alarm bells after top prospect’s debut

The Tigers limped into their series finale against the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon, trying to stave off a sweep after losing their first two games in embarrassing fashion. They entered Wednesday having lost eight of their last 10 games, and they sort of spent all of Tuesday evening looking like they forgot how to play baseball.

There was an intriguing element to Wednesday's game, though; No. 10 prospect Troy Melton was getting his major league debut after an impressive stretch in Triple-A. However, it doesn't seem like he's going to stay for long — Tarik Skubal went onto the paternity list as part of the corresponding move, and Brewer Hicklen was DFA'd — it meant we'd be getting a first glimpse into the future of the Tigers rotation.

The Pirates immediately made it look like a bleak future. Andrew McCutchen powered a 411-foot homer off of Melton in the top of the first, and things got so much worse in the second.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Melton gave up a grand slam to Spencer Horwitz to put the Pirates up 5-0 early. Oneil Cruz tacked on a sac fly in the third, and the Tigers remained scoreless through four.

Tigers top pitching prospect Troy Melton gives up grand slam in MLB debut vs. Pirates

Nothing went right in the Tigers' 8-5 loss on Tuesday, but blame for Wednesday's failures thus far can be pinned almost fully on Melton. The offense struggled against 4.00 ERA Pirates starter Bailey Falter, but a grand slam with two outs is quite literally worst-case scenario stuff, and Melton has to wear it. Not a great first impression on the club.

The Tigers haven't been connected to many starting pitchers at the deadline, rather relievers, but they could definitely use one. Skubal, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, and Reese Olson are all finally healthy, but Dietrich Enns has proven he won't work out as a long-term starter and Sawyer Gipson-Long is facing setbacks in his return from the IL. This first start from Melton won't inspire any confidence that he'll become a mainstay in this year's rotation either.

Scott Harris wants to be "pragmatic" at the deadline, which would probably mean not overpaying for a starter, but he may have to. The other option is to conclude that Melton was just working through nerves and keep him in the rotation, but it's a risky bet that Tigers fans don't want to see the team take.