When the Detroit Tigers signed shortstop Javier Baez and announced their intention of breaking camp with prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene on the major league roster, they probably imagined better offensive output one month into the season.
However, they currently have the least productive offense in baseball, before Tuesday afternoon’s game.
The Tigers have scored just 78 runs so far, the fewest in MLB.
After a few games without crossing home plate, they finally scored on Tuesday, in the fifth inning of their game against the Oakland Athletics.
“After not scoring a run in 28 innings, the Tigers finally got one,” FOX Sports MLB tweeted.
After not scoring a run in 28 innings, the Tigers finally got one 👏
(via @BallySportsDET)pic.twitter.com/jjCYBsylUc
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 10, 2022
It was a sacrifice fly by Derek Hill that drove in infielder Jonathan Schoop.
The Tigers went on to defeat the A’s by a final of 6-0.
But a lot of things have gone wrong in the Tigers lineup.
Tough Breaks
Greene suffered an injury and hasn’t been able to take the field yet, and the team has just 11 home runs entering Tuesday’s action.
It’s an incredibly low number, even considering the circumstances.
All in all, there haven’t been many above-average Detroit hitters this year.
Miguel Cabrera earned a place in history, yes, but hasn’t really produced much this year; while top prospect Torkelson is struggling to adjust to MLB pitching.
Akil Baddoo, Eric Haase, Jeimer Candelario, and Baez himself have also struggled.
When seven or eight of the nine regular hitters are slumping, it’s really hard to score runs.
The Tigers’ 2022 season looked promising once upon a time, not so long ago, but at 9-20 and in last place of the AL Central division, that is no longer the case.
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