Tigers nearing never-before-seen collapse could have drastic offseason implications

Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts after struck out against Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesThe Tigers have all of six regular season games left to keep themselves from making the worst kind of baseball history. With their loss to the Braves on Sunday, they're one loss (and one Guardians win) away from blowing what was a 15.5-game lead over Cleveland on July 8 and a 14-game lead over the then-second place Royals and Twins. If the Tigers miss the postseason, those 15.5 games will be the biggest lead any first place AL or NL team has ever given up in 125 years of modern era baseball.

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