Gene Mauch and the 1964 Phillies have nothing on the 2025 Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers are in the midst of committing one of the greatest choke jobs in baseball history. The Tigers have blown a 15 1/2-game lead they held on the Guardians on July 8.
Detroit has managed to do this by losing seven straight and 10 of its last 11. The Guardians, who were still 12 1/2 games behind the Tigers on Aug. 25, have won 11 of 12. They are 17-5 in September.
Gavin Williams out-pitched Tarik Skubal last night as the Guardians beat the Tigers, 5-2, to move into a tie for first place in the AL Central.
Skubal was the Tigers’ best chance to end their losing streak.
I have no confidence in the Tigers and the price is low enough to fade them in a pitching matchup of Jack Flaherty against Tanner Bibee.
Flaherty is past his prime. He has pitched better this month, but still has a 4.60 ERA on the year.
Bibee has finally stepped up after being disappointing much of the season. Bibee is pitching his best of the year, allowing only three earned runs in his last three starts spanning 21 2/3 innings. He has a 21-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio during this span.
Cleveland also has a far superior bullpen. The Guardians have the fourth-lowest bullpen ERA this month at 2.80. The Tigers, by contrast, rank 24th in ERA this month at 5.30.
Pick: Guardians -$1.25
