Three Detroit Tigers takeaways at All-Star break

For the Detroit Tigers (39-50), the 2023 season has been a frustrating one to say the least. Not only is the club fighting for its first playoff berth since 2015, it's on track to fall short of that goal despite playing in an AL Central Division that features the Cleveland Guardians (45-45) clinging to the top spot. Despite the shortcomings, the Tigers head into the All-Star break 5.5 games back from the division lead with a puncher's chance of making a run in the second half of the season. Here are three essential observations from the first 89 games.

1. Hitting remains a struggle

Any casual baseball fan could watch a single Tigers game -- or take a single look at the stat sheet -- and see that the team has trouble hitting the ball. Almost every single hitting category shows unimpressive results.

Center fielder Riley Greene leads the team in batting average with a .305 mark, but he's missed more than 30 games due to injury. The next-best hitter by average is outfielder Matt Vierling, who sits at .280, but he has also missed a significant chunk of time. Not even future first ballot Hall-of-Famer Miguel Cabrera can save the Tigers with his .245 batting average in his farewell season.

When it comes to hitting for power, the Tigers are even more discouraging. Only two hitters have double digit home runs: first baseman Spencer Torkelson (12) and catcher Jake Rogers (11). For comparison, the MLB leader in home runs is Los Angeles Angels' pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani with 32, while 49 other MLB hitters have at least 15 homers.

2. Injury bug has bitten the pitching staff

The Tigers would like to believe that they've been bitten by the injury bug so aggressively that it's gone for good. Sure, the aforementioned Greene and Vierling missed time, but it's been much worse with the pitching staff. 

2022 starters Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal began the season on the injured list, and it's only gone downhill from there. The Tigers have rolled out 14 different starting pitchers so far this season. They've gotten very solid production from Eduardo Rodriguez (2.64 ERA in 12 starts) and Skubal since his return (0.00 ERA in two starts), and even pitched a combined no-hitter on Saturday behind a stellar start from Matt Manning. 

But it was announced in late June that the team leader in wins, Matthew Boyd, would undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Starter Spencer Turnbull and reliever Will Vest remain on the injured list going into the break. The Tigers will need some stability on the bump if they want any sort of hope for the back half of the season.

3. Still no everyday lineup

Much of this can be chalked-up to A.J. Hinch's managerial style, but the Tigers only have three players who have played at least 75 games out of 89, and only two with more than 300 at-bats. The three constants are Torkelson, shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Zack Short.

Some of the shuffling is warranted, given the hitting struggles mentioned in the first takeaway. However, one could also argue that the inconsistency in the lineup contributes to the lack of confidence that some of the younger hitters are facing.

Nonetheless, the Tigers need to find a more consistent lineup if they want to make a run at the division title. Coming out of the All-Star break, all eyes should be on Hinch the rest of the way.