The Tigers' struggles on the road continued as they fell to the Astros in the final game of the series, leaving them 14 games under .500 and in a deeper hole than they were in May. Manager AJ Hinch emphasized the importance of not viewing every loss as a downturn, but rather as an opportunity to take a step forward. However, the team's recent performance has been far from encouraging, winning just two of 13 road series this season. The pressure is on to start stringing together wins, as the trade deadline approaches on August 3rd, and the roster could look very different by then.
The Tigers' injuries didn't help matters, with Gleyber Torres and Wenceel Perez both sidelined. Torres aggravated his left oblique, and Perez sustained facial injuries after a plyo band snapped during his postgame workout. Despite these setbacks, the team had some positive news with the return of Casey Mize from the injured list, but his performance was underwhelming. Mize struggled with command and his splitter, allowing the Astros to focus on his slider. He was charged with three runs in 4.6 innings, including a solo home run to Jeremy Pena.
The Astros' starter, Peter Lambert, had a strong outing, striking out five in seven innings. The Tigers' only run came from Kerry Carpenter, who launched his 10th home run of the season in the seventh inning. However, the Tigers' offense was largely ineffective, with only two hits in the game. Kevin McGonigle's sixth home run of the season in the ninth inning was the only other highlight for the Tigers.
The Tigers' inability to string together wins is a major concern. With the trade deadline looming, the team's performance will be under scrutiny. Hinch's emphasis on taking a step forward in each series is a positive mindset, but the team's recent results have been disappointing. The Tigers need to find a way to turn their fortunes around quickly, or they may be looking at a very different roster by the end of the season.
