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Series Preview: Blue Jays travel west on the 401 to face Tigers
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Photo credit: © Evan Petzold / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 15, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: May 15, 2026, 17:47 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays may have had their season turning point on Wednesday.
Last season, Bo Bichette hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth against the Texas Rangers in late May. They took two of three in that series, which kick-started a 13-3 stretch over their next 16 games.
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that a slow start doesn’t necessarily mean a team is out of the race for a division. On May 28th, 2025, the same day Bichette hit that two-run home run, the Yankees had an eight-game division lead over the Jays. By the time the Jays swept a four-game series against the Yankees in late-June/early-July, that lead had evaporated.
On Wednesday, Daulton Varsho hit his fifth home run of the season, a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th in a 5-3 victory over the Rays. It was just the fifth time the Jays have hit a walk-off grand slam, and the first time since Steve Pearce’s two walk-off grand slams in a four-day span in 2017.
That win over the Rays was important, as they had taken the first five games in the season matchup, a sweep in early May and two of the first three in the most-recent series. As it stands, the Jays are 9.5 games back of the division lead, and just two games back of the final wild card spot.
But at some point, they have to start winning.

Examining the Tigers

The Jays overcoming an eight-game deficit is impressive, but in the dog days of August 2024, the Tigers did something even more impressive. On August 10th, 2024, the Tigers had a 55-64 record, 13.5 games back of the division lead and 10 games back of the wild card. A 31-13 stretch to end the season saw the Tigers finish second in the division, earning a playoff berth.
However, the 2025 season was the inverse, as the Tigers blew a 15.5 game division lead to the Cleveland Guardians. They eventually won the division and beat the Guardians in the wild card game, but their last two seasons have been weird.
The American League Central team isn’t off to a great start. Over their first 44 games, the Tigers are 19-25, with a 2-8 record in their last 10. That’s good enough to be tied for the the fewest wins in the AL Central, but just two and a half games behind the final wild card spot.
Their hitting has been good this season, slashing .242/.324/.389. All three percentages sit in the middle of the pack, but their 40 home runs are tied for the eight-fewest in Major League Baseball. Funnily enough, the Jays have the same number of homers, but the Tigers 102 wRC+ this season is far superior.
Similarly, their pitching is in the middle of the pack as well. The Tigers’ 4.06 starter ERA is the 15th lowest in the league, slightly ahead of the Blue Jays’ 4.07 ERA. That said, the Tigers have a 3.74 FIP, which is the seventh best. Their starters have also given up just 21 home runs, tied for the sixth-fewest in MLB.
Even their relief pitching sits in the middle of the pack. With a 4.08 ERA and 4.03 FIP, the Tigers sit 16th and 17th in the big leagues respectively. Tigers’ relievers have given up just 18 home runs, which you guessed it, sits in the middle of the pack.
The Tigers are still a good team that has just had a slow start.

One player to watch: Dillon Dingler

Leading the team in home runs is catcher Dillon Dingler, who has eight in 152 plate appearances for a 119 wRC+. The catcher has only had limited at-bats against the Blue Jays, but has two doubles and nine hits in 19 plate appearances, good enough for a .500/.526/.667 slash line.
Dingler is also the reigning American League Gold Glove winning catcher, edging out Alejandro Kirk for the award. Rather undeserved, if you ask me.

Quick Hits

  • Riley Greene has been the Tigers’ best hitter, slashing .331/.426/.490 with four home runs in 183 plate appearances. That said, he hasn’t had particularly good results against the Jays in his career. Rookie Kevin McGonigle is slashing .293/.400/.433 with two home runs in 185 plate appearances, good for a 139 wRC+.
  • Other above average hitters are Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith, and Spencer Torkelson. Torres, a former Yankee, is slashing .259/.389/.328 with two home runs and more walks than strikeouts. Torkelson and Carpenter are tied for the second-most home runs on the team, each player has six. However, Carpenter and Torres are both on the 10-day injured list.
  • The Jays will avoid Tarik Skubal, as the left-handed pitcher is currently on the 15-day injured list. Instead, they get Ty Madden on Friday, who’ll need an opener, as well as a bullpen day on Saturday, and Jack Flaherty on Sunday.
  • Madden has a 2.45 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 11 innings pitched this season, appearing in two games. Flaherty has a 5.73 ERA and 5.21 FIP in 37.2 innings pitched over nine starts.
  • Trey Yesavage gets the ball on Friday evening, and Kevin Gausman will get it for the series finale. On Saturday, it’s presumed that the Blue Jays will have a bullpen day, with Spencer Miles likely to eat at least a few of those innings.

Probable pitchers

Friday: Trey Yesavage/Brenan Hanifee (Ty Madden)
Saturday: TBD/TBD
Sunday: Kevin Gausman/Jack Flaherty

Game times

Friday: 6:45 PM ET
Saturday: 1:10 PM ET
Sunday: 1:40 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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