Tigers must address these major issues ASAP if they want to halt season-worst skid

The Detroit Tigers headed into the All-Star break with the best record in the Major Leagues. After the break, however, they have looked like a completely different team.

The Tigers are 1-5 in their first six games after the break and 1-9 in their last 10. They are 7-11 in the month of July and have been swept twice in that span (and once by the Pittsburgh Pirates).

Practically everything that could go wrong for the Tigers during this stretch has. While it's not easy to pinpoint a singular cause for this slump, there are some key areas of focus they need to improve – and quickly – in order to snap their season-worst skid.

Tigers must make these major changes ASAP to halt season-worst skid

Tigers' bats need to wake up (AJ Hinch lineup changes?)

The Tigers have an OPS of .526 in six games since coming out of the All-Star break. They have scored just nine runs in that span. Spencer Torkelson (.318), Matt Vierling (.313) and Gleyber Torres (.304) have been pulling their weight offensively over the last half-dozen games, but several of the Tigers' bats have gone cold.

Some of the Tigers' key offensive contributors from the first half the season – including Riley Greene, Javier Báez, Zach McKinstry, Parker Meadows and more – are all hitting below .200 since the break. Needless to say, that's not going to be sustainable if the Tigers intend to make some noise down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Tigers' starting pitchers not named Tarik Skubal need to step up

The Tigers' only win since the All-Star break came on Sunday against the Texas Rangers with Tarik Skubal on the mound. Even then, the win wasn't a commanding one (2-1), as Detroit's bats once again failed to show up.

The Tigers' bullpen is tired because their starters are struggling to pitch deep into games. Only Skubal has lasted longer than five innings in his most recent start, with the likes of Jack Flaherty (three innings) and All-Star Casey Mize (four innings) each struggling to an ERA of 9.00 and allowing opposing batters to tee off to the tune of a .400-plus batting average in a pair of disastrous outings.

Tigers must limit mental mistakes

While an overtaxed bullpen and struggling offense are primarily to blame for the Tigers' recent rough stretch, some rare mental lapses – specifically, in Tuesday's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates – have cost them greatly.

Mistakes happen, but making throwing errors on routine plays, failing to touch home plate on a would-be sacrifice fly, and lacking urgency in chasing down ground balls should never be the difference between a win and a loss like they were for the Tigers. Cold stretches happen, but these types of gaffes can't cause a greater spiral.

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