The 2023 MLB season is roughly halfway through June and the AL Central has yet to have a team pull away from the rest. With the MLB All-Star Game exactly a month away from today (July 11), the Tigers have compiled an uninspiring record of 26-36 and sit at 4th in the AL Central. Despite being just 5.5 games back of the first-place Minnesota Twins, the Detroit Tigers are trending in the wrong direction. The team has been on an eight-game losing streak and lost nine of their last ten. Ouch! 

The primary reason for the Tiger’s offensive struggles has been outfielder Riley Greene’s absence from the lineup. On May 31, the emerging star outfielder landed on the injured list (IL) with a stress fracture in his left fibula, per the team. According to Evan Woodbery of NBC Sports June 3, Greene is supposed to miss 6-8 weeks and the injury sustained was less serious than originally anticipated. Greene’s absence from the lineup for multiple weeks will be severely missed, especially after raking in the month of May. Last month, Greene caught fire and had a .365/435/.573 slash line. On the back of their star’s prowess at the plate, the Tigers went 16-11 (.593). On the season, Greene leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, hits (60), and offensive wins above replacement (1.6). 

Without their best offensive player, the Tigers have struggled mightily so far in the month of June. The team have lost 8 of their last 10 and have had an abysmal .157/.229/.264 slash line at the plate. Only four players on the roster have a batting average north of .200: third baseman Zack Short, catcher Jake Rogers, designated hitter Miguel Cabrera, and outfielder Kerry Carpenter. Despite being the only players to bat above .200, they account for less than 20% of the team’s at-bats. 

The Tigers have not been to the postseason since 2014, which was eight years ago. Considering the team’s struggles at the plate thus far in June, don’t anticipate this team snapping the streak this season.