A.J. Hinch refuses to push the panic button

Back in July, the Detroit Tigers held a fourteen-game lead at the top of the American League's Central Section and had a fifteen-and-a-half-game cushion over the Cleveland Guardians, who at the time were in third place in the division.

But since then, the toothless Tigers have been concocting one of the worst collapses in MLB history.

Detroit was swept by the Atlanta Braves yesterday (Sunday), suffering its sixth straight loss and ninth setback in its last ten games. Fortunately for the Tigers, Cleveland lost to the Minnesota Twins, ending an excellent run of ten consecutive wins and fifteen victories from their last sixteen duels.

The Tigers' ten-and-a-half-game lead over the Guardians at the beginning of September has suddenly evaporated and is currently one game down with six to play.

“We're going to wake up tomorrow in first place.”

Manager A.J. Hinch on the struggles as of late and the upcoming series against the Guardians. #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/75gqyL0ylT

– FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) September 21, 2025

Yet manager A.J. Hinch refuses to push the panic button.

I don't see our guys giving up, I don't see our guys down, I don't see our guys pouting, I don't see our guys conceding anything. And we shouldn't. I want to remind everyone that we're a first-place team, and right now, it's hard for everyone to see us that way. We're in control of our own destiny, and we have the opportunity to face the Guardians in a three-game series.

Hinch certainly has a point, the good news for the Tigers being that they still control their destiny with a three-game series against the Guardians starting on Tuesday. Ace pitcher and American League Cy Young Trophy favorite Tarik Skubal should get the start in Game 1 of the series.

But let's just say there's a sense of urgency in the Motor City.

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