Tigers receive 'meh' grade from ESPN analyst for mediocre start to 2026

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Tigers receive 'meh' grade from ESPN analyst for mediocre start to 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers are starting the year off with a mediocre record. After a late-season collapse in 2025, they retooled with Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander to try and go all-in for Tarik Skubal's last year of club control.

Through the first month of the season, the Tigers sit at 18-17, tied atop the division with the Cleveland Guardians, in what's been an overall mediocre start to the season.

ESPN's David Schoenfield handed out grades for every team, and amid giving the Tigers a "C" grade for their start to the year, he called their season so far "meh" outside of Skubal and rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle.

Tigers given 'meh' assessment of 2026 season so far​

"The Tigers have some clear positives, starting with Tarik Skubal, who is still great, and Kevin McGonigle, who is on his way to greatness," Schoenfield writes. "Otherwise? Sort of a 'meh' opening month."

After the disastrous close to the 2025 regular season and heartbreaking defeat to the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS, the Tigers are looking to make the World Series this year.

But, so far, things aren't going too well, nor are they going too poorly. They own a plus-18 run differential, and have a 12-3 record at home and a 6-14 record on the road.

Their offense is good with a .738 OPS on the season, which ranks sixth in MLB, while their pitching staff's 3.81 ERA ranks ninth in the league as well.

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Those are some promising numbers, as they're top 10 in offense and pitching so far in 2026. But, overall, it's a lackluster start for a team that is aiming for the World Series.

Verlander, Casey Mize, Will Vest, Gleyber Torres, Zach McKinstry, Javier Baez, and Parker Meadows are all hurt, and the majority of the lineup and pitching staff are, for the most part, just okay.

Nothing has been alarming, nor has anything been overly exciting. As Schoenfield called it, it's been a "meh" start to the year for the Tigers.

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