The Detroit Tigers have suffered back-to-back exits in the divisional round of the MLB playoffs over the past two seasons. The team fell short in Game 5 of the ALDS both years, losing to the Cleveland Guardians in 2024 and the Seattle Mariners in 2025.
With manager A.J. Hinch’s group struggling to get over the hump, 2026 will be a pivotal year for the organization.
Despite the success of the team’s core, the Tigers have remained hesitant to spend on large contracts. Detroit features one of the best pitchers in the league in left-handed ace Tarik Skubal, along with emerging stars in the batting lineup such as Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry. The talent is there, but the front office will need to decide whether to invest more aggressively to push the team deeper into October.