The Detroit Tigers have struggled since taking three of four from the Cleveland Guardians in mid-August, dropping their last three series along with seven of their last 10 games. Now 14 games under .500 and nine games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins — who are weakly pulling away in the American League Central division — as the calendar flips to September.
The three series losses all came at home against the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and New York Yankees, respectively, with the latter being a four-game series defeat.