Game 40 - Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City Royals, May 9, 2026, 7:10 PM EDT

[byco42]

Game 40 - Tigers @ Royals
May 9, 2026 7:10 PM EDT
Kaufmann Stadium



Burch Smith #65 RHP
0-1 / 1.59 / 1.15

Tigers (18-21) T2nd ALC L4

1. K McGonigle (L) SS
2. M Vierling (R) CF
3. C Keith (L) 3B
4. R Greene (L) LF
5. D Dingler (R) DH
6. K Carpenter (L) RF
7. S Torkelson (R) 1B
8. Z McKinstry (L) 2B
9. J Rogers (R) C

Michael Wacha #52 RHP
3-2 / 3.05 / 1.12

1. M Garcia (R) 3B
2. B Witt Jr. (R) SS
3. V Pasquantino (L) 1B
4. S Perez (R) DH
5. C Jensen (L) C
6. J Caglianone (L) RF
7. L Thomas (R) LF
8. M Massey (L) 2B
9. K Isbel (L) CF

"You can't tell anything about a baseball team until 40 games have been played."

 

[kalinecountry]

Burch Smith is Saturday's Tigers opener. Ty Madden, originally listed as the starter, will pitch bulk.

IIRC, wacha has previously beaten the Tigers with the royals and red sox and cards.

Colt Keith, swing:
Mar/Apr: 72.5 MPH bat speed, 32° tilt, 11° attack angle
May: 69.0 MPH bat speed, 29° tilt, 5° attack angle

Colt Keith, contact point:Mar/Apr: 7.4" in front of home, 30.9" in front of center of mass
May: 2.5" in front of home, 24.9" in front of center of mass

Troy Melton through three perfect innings with 5 strikeouts in Lakeland. Only needed 27 pitches so may get another inning. FB/SL looking good. Not eligible to return until the 25th.

Harris roster building philosophy is a carbon copy of what Farhan Zaidi tried with SFG where Harris worked as the Assistant GM. Worked great for a year, never worked again. Building a roster of castoffs as your depth never works.
Since July 7, 2025 Tigers are 22nd with a 98 wRC+ 23rd in runs 19th HR
23rd in fielding 26th in defense. Facts are facts, they added a 38M SP and the best rookie in baseball to their roster, and a healthy Matt Vierling.
MG

The best skill of AJ Hinch is managing a BP and matchups.
Vest..broken
Jansen broken
Holton erratic
Finnegan not infallible
Hurter not infallible
tough to be a great cook when the guy shopping is a little bitch.
Vierling .225
Kerry .210
Jahmai Jones .200
Perez .179
Hao Yu Lee .163
McKinstry .196
Tork .208
Zack ****ing Short is playing SS
tough to win baseball games with that kind of roster.
MG

What to do about a Tigers team that can't find enough pitching -- or hitting -- as times get tense

You had questions, and commentary, about a Tigers team that needs to make trades, find some jumper cables for its lineup, and figure out a way to salvage a season that might be slipping away.

tigersintelligencereport.substack.com

What to do about a Tigers team that can't find enough pitching -- or hitting -- as times get tense.
You had questions, and commentary, about a Tigers team that needs to make trades, find some jumper cables for its lineup, and figure out a way to salvage a season that might be slipping away.
Tigers Intelligence Report w/Lynn Henning

Tarik Skubal’s free agent market taking hit after injury could change Tigers trajectory

The phrase of the year across the baseball world has been "loose bodies" as an ever-growing number of pitchers have succumbed to this elbow malady, filling up i

motorcitybengals.com

Tarik Skubal’s free agent market taking hit after injury could change Tigers trajectory.
Could this be a possible blessing in disguise for the Tigers?
MCBTB

 

[tigermud]

6 pitches in for smith 3 hits 2-0 already. Hopeless

 

[tigermud]

This team is about exciting as watch a clock tick

 

[tigermud]

Perez is in for carpenter already for unknown reason, lettuce guess carp tweaked a hammy and will go on the 10 or 15. Sure why not.

And why is Keith still getting starts at 3B, why am I still watching these games this is not a good team at all

 

[biggunsbob]

5 game losing streak. Nice team Harris. Where is the fight ?

 

[biggunsbob]

Tigers 5 losses in a row
West Michigan 13 losses in a row.

Well Madden almost got out of that inning.

 

[nydo77]

The one merciful thing to say about this one is that it was quick.

 

[biggunsbob]

Tiger affiliates
Toledo (20-18)
Won 13-6 today. Max Clark breaks out of his slump 2 for 4 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Batting .272. Jung had a big day, yup he can only hit minor league pitching it looking like. Lots of hits from everyone.
Four pitchers 13 k’s and 3 bb. Wish we had some mlb pitchers.

Box

Gameday: Redbirds 6, Mud Hens 13 Final Score (05/09/2026)

Follow baseball results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Redbirds vs. Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field

www.milb.com

===============
Erie (17-15)
First loss in a week ish 6-5 . Walked off in tie game
Liranzo 0-5. Batting .114

Box

Gameday: SeaWolves 5, Senators 6 Final Score (05/09/2026)

Follow baseball results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for SeaWolves vs. Senators at FNB Field

www.milb.com

=============
West Michigan (12-20)
13 losses in a row . Rainer 1-3 batting .238
Two on top of 9th broke the 3-3 tie. Lost 6-3

Box

Gameday: Dragons 5, Whitecaps 3 Final Score (05/09/2026)

Follow baseball results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Dragons vs. Whitecaps at LMCU Ballpark

www.milb.com

=============
Lakeland (17-15)
Lost 3-2. Other team scored 1 in the ninth.
Lakeland lost. Some decent pitching stats

Box

Gameday: Mets 3, Flying Tigers 2 Final Score (05/09/2026)

Follow baseball results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Mets vs. Flying Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium

www.milb.com

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/kerry-carpenter-exits-after-crashing-into-sidewall

Tigers look to 'weather the storm' after latest injury as skid hits 5.
Tigers official site

Kerry Carpenter exits game after shoulder slams into wall on misplay.
Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter exited the game with left shoulder soreness before the bottom of the third inning.
The injury occurred in the first inning.
Carpenter slammed his left shoulder into the side wall in foul territory on a defensive mistake that led to an inside-the-park home run for Bobby Witt Jr. on Saturday, May 9, in the second of three games against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Freep

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/tigers-vs-royals/2026/05/09/824115/final/box

Boxscore.
Madden pitched okay with 6 innings and 3 runs 5 K's.
They can't touch wacha.

Royals 5, Tigers 1: Sleepwalking towards the cellar

Another lifeless day at the plate for the Tigers.

www.blessyouboys.com

Royals 5 - Tigers 1: Sleepwalking towards the cellar.
Another lifeless day at the plate for the Tigers.
BYBTB

The losing streak is now five games. The road record is now an MLB-worst 6-16.

The Kansas City Royals prolonged the Tigers’ misery Saturday night with a relatively breezy 5-1 victory at Kauffman Stadium.

Detroit Tigers' tailspin continues with fifth straight defeat.
"We have to find a way to weather the storm," Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling said. "We have to find a way to get a couple of wins. I know it's a tough stretch right now, one of the tougher ones. But we have to find a way. It's all part of a long baseball season. We just have to find a way to weather this whole thing and get some wins and get some momentum."
Detnews

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/05/inside-the-park-homer-sends-tigers-to-fifth-straight-loss.html

Inside-the-park homer sends Tigers to fifth straight loss.
Mlive

 

[kalinecountry]

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

by Holly Horning I’m taking the day off. I’m going to make the most of the one day out of 365 in which moms are celebrated. Moms are not exempt from having a connection with baseball. T…

totallytigers.wordpress.com

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Totally Tigers

I’m taking the day off. I’m going to make the most of the one day out of 365 in which moms are celebrated.
Moms are not exempt from having a connection with baseball. Today, I’m asking you to share a story about the moms in your life – biological or not – as it pertains to baseball.
And I wouldn’t be a good daughter if I didn’t re-print the annual tribute to my own mother.
FIVE FOR FRIDAY
I also have 1 more request. For those of you who still have parents, call your mom. Tell her you love her.
I mean it.

 

[kalinecountry]

I guess they had enough of Keith and possibly others playing 3rd base.
Gage Workman is back with the Tigers.

edit.
Maybe not. I saw it on Twitter around 11:00 am and can't find it in the usual daily places I look. It is possible that once again, Carpenter will be on the 10 day IL.

edit.
Well I'm sticking with it this time. Tiger Minor League Report posted this.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/gage-workman-now-157889654?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Gage Workman Earned This Shot. Now He Has to Take Advantage of It.
TMLR

Workman’s numbers at Triple-A Toledo made the decision hard to ignore. He was hitting .358/.413/.590 with a 162 wRC+, and while the slash line is impressive, the more important part is how he got there. Workman cut his Triple-A strikeout rate by a significant amount from last season, bringing it down to 23.3%. For a player whose swing-and-miss has always been the biggest question, that is the number that changes the conversation.

Tigers Place Kerry Carpenter On 10-Day IL, Select Gage Workman

Carpenter's shoulder injury leads to some roster shuffling, including a prominent 60-day IL move. MLB Trade Rumors has the details.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

Tigers Place Kerry Carpenter On 10-Day IL, Select Gage Workman.
MLBTR

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2026/05/tigers-place-kerry-carpenter-on-injured-list-call-up-infielder-from-toledo.html

Tigers place Kerry Carpenter on injured list, call up infielder from Toledo.
Mlive

 

[kalinecountry]

The Detroit Tigers are now 40 games into the 2026 season, which means it’s time for me to share some thoughts and observations.I think the bottom line is this: it’s not completely doom and gloom yet, but there’s no sugarcoating it either — this has been bad baseball. The bullpen has flat-out tossed away games. Kenley Jansen is feeling more like a Joe Nathan 2.0 signing than a stabilizer, and I’m not sure there’s an easy fix. The alleged “Big 3” at the back end suddenly doesn’t look so big. Vest was bad more often than good before landing on the IL. Finnegan who everyone praises has some serious warning signs beneath the surface.Yes, the results with Finnegan’s tenure in Detroit has been strong, but in 2026 he is currently sporting a 4.60 FIP, 13 walks in 17.2 innings, and a K/9 dropping from 11.6 last year to 6.6 this year. These are all flashing caution lights. Then there’s the defense, which has been abysmal. Catcher has been very good. McGonigle looking roughly average at short as a rookie is honestly better than expected. He will end up solid but not elite in time. Beyond that? You can pick apart every position defensively. Here is one bright spot: Despite this ugly stretch, the Tigers are still +1 in run differential overall. They’re actually the only team in the Central that’s positive with Cleveland sitting at -3. That tells you this team isn’t completely dead — but it also shows how badly they’ve underperformed in key moments. Scotty Boy has a real conundrum now. The lineup has to get better against lefties, and they clearly need more than one reliable bullpen arm. That is a lot to patch up when your farm system is top heavy and 2 top prospects are injured, 1 of whom is suspect anyways, and a 3rd is striking out at a pace that makes 2025 Riley Greene blush. We’ll see what the rotation looks like once everyone gets healthy, but the other holes on the team have been exposed early and often. And here’s the uncomfortable reality: This isn’t just a tiny slump anymore. The Tigers are 17 games under .500 since July 8th of last season. That’s not a small sample. At some point, that becomes more representative of who you are than the first 3 1/2 months of 2026. Looking beyond this season, the short-term future looks a lot hazier than it did last season than the “wait for the kids” crowd yelled so confidently for years. Some of those roses-and-butterflies voices on the stay patient train also have an interest in staying in the organization’s good graces and avoiding real criticism. When some of us say don’t believe all the overhype there is a reason for it. I love to use some hyperbole and colorful language for laughs at times but I’ll use what Floyd Mayweather said after a fight, paraphrasing: That’s just to sell tickets and draw interest. Overall, I pride myself on being honest and objective. While this season is not lost by any means yet, the ugly is real. Clean up the defense and the bullpen walks and this team can still win the cesspool that is the AL Central, but the concerns are real.

TigerMikeTheSequel

 

[kalinecountry]

To make room for Workman on the 40-man roster, RHP Justin Verlander was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Looks like JV has taken alex cobb's place for getting a contract and not pitching.
Sad.