Just Now: AJ Hinch Reframes Tigers’ Struggles With Optimistic Message Ahead of Guardians Series…Read more

 

Heading into a pivotal stretch, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch is trying to shift the narrative around his team’s recent troubles, emphasizing opportunity and belief over panic.

 

Over the past week, the Tigers’ once-comfortable lead atop the American League Central has shrunk dramatically — down to just one game. What was once a commanding cushion has nearly vanished as Detroit heads into two tough road series: first against their division rivals, the Cleveland Guardians, then the Boston Red Sox.

 

Hinch isn’t pretending everything’s perfect. He’s acknowledged the rough patch the club is going through — losses piling up, momentum slipping — but he’s also making clear that Detroit still holds its own fate in its hands. The message: success is still possible, and it starts now.

 

After Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves (part of a slide that has included several defeats in recent games), Hinch looked forward instead of dwelling on what’s gone wrong. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming series in Cleveland. “We’re going to wake up tomorrow in first place. With our destiny controlled by us, against a team that’s been as hot as you can get in baseball. And we get to play them in a three-game series. Sign me up,” Hinch said. Despite the decline, he’s projecting confidence.

 

Matters haven’t been easy. Detroit was swept by Cleveland recently, suffered ugly losses in Atlanta, and their offense has struggled — in some stretches, nearly silent. Their lead, once as large as 10½ games in early September over the Guardians, has melted; the pressure has grown.

 

Still, Hinch insists the players haven’t quit. He doesn’t see them sulking, giving up, or letting the moment overwhelm them. In his view, they’re still playing like a team with something to fight for, even if their recent record doesn’t reflect that yet.

 

He also pointed out the positives: Detroit began the season strong, with its players recognized among the league’s best (including six All-Stars), and at times posted the best record in baseball. While those peaks make the current slump more glaring, they also serve as proof of what the team is capable of accomplishing.

 

Looking ahead, the rotation will feature Tarik Skubal as the starter for Game 1 of the series in Cleveland, followed by Jack Flaherty, and then another pitcher to be named for Game 3.

 

Hinch’s approach seems aimed at resetting the team’s mindset more than anything — to refocus on what they can control: execution, attitude, resilience. With the postseason and division title still potentially within reach, he wants to frame what’s ahead not as the fallout of failure, but as a meaningful chance to reclaim momentum.

 

In short: The Tigers are coming off a rough patch — losses, tightening standings, external doubt — but Hinch refuses to let that define them. Instead, he’s choosing to lean into the challenge. Rather than panicking, he’s asking the team and the fans to recognize that they still control their own destiny. And with a high-stakes series starting in Cleveland, there may be no better time to prove that belief true.