Detroit’s 26-man playoff roster for the AL wild-card vs Cleveland leans heavily on a 14-position, 12-pitcher plan with Tarik Skubal slated to open. The lineup targets right-handers with Meadows, Torres, Carpenter, Torkelson, Greene, Dingler, McKinstry, Pérez and Sweeney, backed by Ibañez, Jones and Malloy off the bench. Injuries to Colt Keith and Matt Vierling threaten depth, while Flaherty and Mize anchor the rotation. Guardians-lefty matchups shape late-inning decisions, and the winner advances to Seattle.

Colt Keith is on the injured list with right rib cage inflammation (intercostal strain) and will miss the Tigers’ remaining regular-season games, with a postseason return uncertain. Detroit has eight games left; the wild-card series starts Sept. 30, and the ALDS on Oct. 4. Keith hopes to ramp back with inflammation down and rehab steps like swinging and running to gauge playoff availability, while Ibáñez, Jung, McKinstry and Sweeney share third-base duties.

Matt Vierling has missed most of 2025 due to multiple injuries (shoulder, left oblique) and is aiming to be ready within two weeks to be ALDS-eligible. He’s rehabbed with running and throwing drills but isn’t swinging yet. His potential return would boost Tigers’ depth and versatility, affecting late-season at-bats and playoff rotation for outfield and bench spots.

The Detroit Tigers' recent struggles continued as they fell 8-5 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking their eighth loss in nine games. A missed home plate slide by Wenceel Pérez epitomized their misfortunes, ultimately costing them a run.

The Tigers managed only three runs in their first 40 innings coming out of the All-Star break, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, finishing 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Despite a late two-run homer from Jahmai Jones, it wasn’t enough to overcome an early deficit.

Casey Mize had a rough outing, giving up five runs in four innings. The Pirates capitalized on the Tigers’ defensive errors to build a commanding lead. This defeat highlights the Tigers’ ongoing offensive woes, raising questions about their ability to maintain their lead in the American League Central.

The Detroit Tigers secured a much-needed victory against the Texas Rangers, ending a six-game losing streak with a close 2-1 win on July 20. Tarik Skubal, despite a stellar outing where he struck out 11 batters across 6 2/3 innings, was left with a no-decision after being pulled with two outs in the seventh. Tyler Holton took over but allowed a wild pitch that tied the game. However, it was Matt Vierling’s two-out single in the eighth that sealed the win for Detroit, as they became the first MLB team to reach 60 wins this season.

Skubal's performance was impressive, showcasing his ability to dominate hitters, striking out key players and limiting the Rangers to just four hits. The Tigers grabbed the lead early in the second inning with a run driven in by Wenceel Pérez, but the game turned tense as Holton's wild pitch allowed the Rangers to equalize. Ultimately, a combination of strong pitching from Skubal and timely hitting from Vierling proved crucial in this tightly contested matchup.