Tigers swept by Guardians and now are in last place all by themselves

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on May 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT— They're not only bad, but they're boring, too.

The Detroit Tigers went down with little resistance Thursday, falling to the Cleveland Guardians, 3-1, on a beautiful day for baseball — not to be confused with a day of beautiful baseball.

The Guardians swept the four-game series, as the Tigers were swept for the fifth time this season — including the third time this month, all since Tarik Skubal went down with an elbow injury less than three weeks ago.

The Tigers are 20-31, 11 games under .500 for the first time since late in the 2023 season. They're 9.5 games back of the Guardians in the American League Central. They're in last place in the division, all by themselves. They've lost 13 of 15 games since the Skubal injury. They scored seven runs in this four-game series.

The season's getting away from the Tigers, heavily favored to win the division, and with a payroll nearly three times than of the Guardians' — if it hasn't already gotten away from them.

And it's not even Memorial Day.

The Tigers' offense managed just six hits Thursday, blowing a first-inning rally chance with runners at second and third with one out, after Kevin McGonigle singled and Dillon Dingler doubled. But Guardians starter Joey Cantillo (4-1) struck out Riley Greene and, after walking Jahmai Jones, got Spencer Torkelson to fly out.

That was basically the extent of the Tigers' threats. They didn't have more than one runner on base in any other inning. They had 23 hits in the four games against the Guardians.

Dingler, at least, spoiled the shutout in the eighth, with a lead-off homer, his team-leading ninth in 2026.

Casey Mize (3-2), in his second start back from an adductor strain, was good again, pitching into the seventh inning. He allowed two runs in the third inning when the Guardians rallied with two out and nobody on. Brayan Rocchio struck out it appeared, but challenged a call and it was overturned. (The Guardians challenge six calls Thursday, and all of them were overturned).

Rocchio made the most of his extra chance doubled on the next pitch, scored on a double by Daniel Schneemann. Jose Ramirez then singled in Schneemann to make it 2-0. That was it against Mize, who allowed four hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out four and walked none. His season ERA is 2.47.

The Guardians added a run in the eighth, when Patrick Bailey homered off Enmanuel De Jesus.

Rocchio, the Guardians' No. 9 hitter, had three hits, including two doubles. Zack Short, the Tigers' No. 9 hitter, got his first hit of 2026, a second-inning single.

The Tigers now have been swept this season by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins (also in four games), Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and the Guardians. Next up for the Tigers is a three-game road series against the Baltimore Orioles, who have their own major issues. That series starts Friday night.

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