Tigers Look Flat Again as Defensive Problems Pile Up in Loss to Red Sox

The Detroit Tigers looked like a team searching for answers again Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

Coming off the devastating news surrounding Tarik Skubal’s injury, Detroit dropped Game 38 to the Boston Red Sox in a performance that felt heavy from the opening innings. The offense struggled to generate anything consistently, the defense continued to unravel, and the overall energy around the club looked noticeably drained.

Tigers Still Searching for Energy After Skubal Injury News

While the reaction from fans to Skubal’s injury has been emotional, the expectation inside a clubhouse is usually different. Players are supposed to focus on the next game, the next inning, and the next pitch. But over the course of this series, the Tigers have looked like a team carrying the weight of the news with them.

That said, Skubal’s absence was not the direct reason Detroit lost Wednesday night.

Jack Flaherty Shows Improvement Despite Ongoing Command Issues

Jack Flaherty took the mound and showed some improvement despite ongoing command issues. He finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs, though the outing still featured too many deep counts, non-competitive pitches, and missed locations.

Still, considering Detroit’s growing list of injuries, the Tigers need Flaherty to keep taking the ball every fifth day, and Wednesday’s outing at least provided signs of progress.

The bigger issue was everything happening around him.

Sonny Gray Continues to Frustrate Detroit Hitters

Detroit’s offense once again had no answer for veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, who has seemingly frustrated Tigers hitters for years. Gray mixed speeds, located well, and kept Detroit off balance throughout the night. Even when Boston went to the bullpen, the Tigers failed to create any sustained pressure.