The News’ Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers’ 2-1 loss to the Astros on Thursday:
One thing I loved
Every time Troy Melton takes the mound, he gives Tigers fans a little hope that there will be life P.S. — that’s Post Skubal (whenever that day may come … and, woof, it looks like it’s coming soon).
Melton has made six starts for the Tigers in 2026 since returning from some elbow inflammation last month, and five of them have been very, very good. And Thursday’s start was the best of them all, as he came out firing, touching 100 mph in the first inning.
Melton actually took a perfect game into the sixth inning, before Taylor Trammell got in for a solo home run — the one bugaboo for Melton this year, as that was the seventh homer he’s allowed in six starts (four came in one).
Melton went six innings, allowing just the one run — the fifth time in six starts he’s allowed two or fewer run, and the fourth he’s allowed one run. Melton, the 25-year-old right-hander, struck out a season-high six, and he didn’t walk anybody. His season ERA is 2.39. His season WHIP remains under 1.00. He’s got a WAR above 1.0, and that’s really impressive, given his lack of starts this season.
Skubal is likely going to be traded next month, and Casey Mize probably will be dealt, too. By season’s end, Melton, a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, might just be the ace of this staff.
Too bad for Melton, Tigers hitters couldn’t hit a lick off Astros starter Tatsuya Imai, who, like Melton, allowed just two hits through six innings — but both of those hits stayed in the park. The Tigers had only four base runners until the ninth inning, when should-be All-Star Dillon Dingler hit his 19th homer of the season.
One thing I didn’t
The Tigers have reached the halfway point of the regular season. And through the first 81 games, there were far more duds than doozies.
The Tigers are 34-47 after Thursday’s loss, their third straight defeat after they had won four in a row and appeared to be threatening to get back into the fringes of the American League playoff picture.
The record is tied for the worst through 81 games in AJ Hinch’s tenure as manager:
If you want the primary reason why deserving Tigers Dillon Dingler and Kevin McGonigle didn’t advance to Round 2 of the fan voting to start the All-Star Game, well, there ya go.
The Tigers began the season with a 60% chance of making the playoffs and a 4% chance of winning the World Series, according to FanGraphs. Those odds are down to 23.9% and 1.6%, respectively. Those numbers are surprisingly high, but they’re the result of the weakest AL in at least a generation.
By the way, the Tigers are 71-91 over their last 162 regular-season games.
Three stars
(Season total in parentheses)
Troy Melton (3)
Dillon Dingler (23)
Taylor Trammell — One of four Trammells to play in Major League Baseball (one is in the Hall of Fame, a 25% hit rate!), his second home run of the season broke up Troy Melton’s perfect game in the sixth inning.
Player of the game
Tatsuya Imai
Next Tigers game
Game 82: Astros at Tigers, 6:40 Friday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1
ICYMI: Yesterday’s Tigers recap
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 81: One thing I loved, one thing I didn’t
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
