Tigers' offense stalls in 3-1 loss to Nationals

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Sep 22, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT — The Tigers have a decision to make this offseason regarding right-hander Drew Anderson.

They hold a $10 million option to retain his services for 2027 and given the way he’s pitched since he was moved into the starting rotation full-time, that’s starting to look like a bargain.

Anderson, 32 and a veteran of three seasons in Asia, made his 11th start in the Tigers’ 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

He went a season-long six innings and had trouble with just one Nationals’ hitter. All-Star CJ Abrams accounted for the three runs Anderson allowed, hitting a solo homer in the second inning and a 404-foot, two-run shot that broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh.

For six innings, though, Anderson yielded just two singles to all other hitters not named Abrams. He had set down 14 of 15 hitters going into the seventh.

He blew through six innings in only 65 pitches, aided by a clean, four-pitch third. He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 22 batters he faced, leaning hard on his change-up and curveball.

He got eight whiffs on 16 swings and six called strikes with his change-up. Which made the second homer by Abrams so frustrating. It came on a 1-0 change-up, one of the few he left up and over the plate.

This was Anderson’s final start of the season. Coming in, he had a 2.36 ERA with an opponent slash-line of .210/.314/.346 in the previous 10. He allowed three runs or less in all of them.

Adding to his value were the 38 relief appearances he made earlier in the season. The versatility is a plus. He is one of just five big-league pitchers to make at least 11 starts with 38 or more relief appearances in the same year. The others, Luke Bachar (this year), John Brebbia (2022), Chad Green (2019) and Juan Nicasio (2016).

Useful.

But after putting up nine runs in the series opener, the Tigers’ offense didn’t get started in this one. Of course, two of their offensive catalysts, Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler, didn’t start the game as the Tigers, eliminated from playoff contention, continue to get extended looks at younger players.

The lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ben Malgeri scored from third with two outs on the second wild pitch of the inning thrown by lefty reliever Jackson Kent.

They banged out seven hits, two each by rookies Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark, but were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

McGonigle reached base safely for the 258th time this season. He’s two shy of the Tigers’ record set by Harvey Kuenn in 1953.