Detroit Tigers Struggle to Find Power in Early Season Sweep

Lack of home runs and clutch hitting plague the Tigers as they fall to 2-4 on the season

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:08pm

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The Detroit Tigers have struggled to generate offense in the early part of the 2026 MLB season, getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks this week. Despite having power hitters like Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, and Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers have hit just one home run as a team so far. Torkelson in particular has struggled, batting just .150 with 8 strikeouts in his first 20 at-bats. Manager A.J. Hinch benched Torkelson in the series finale, hoping to send a message to his struggling sluggers to start producing.

Why it matters

The Tigers' lack of power and clutch hitting has been a major issue in the early going, as they've failed to capitalize on leads and mount comebacks. As one of the preseason favorites in the AL Central, the Tigers need their big bats to start hitting if they want to contend for a playoff spot.

The details

In the series opener, the Tigers fell behind the Diamondbacks 8-0 before scoring 6 runs in the 8th inning, but ultimately fell short. On Tuesday, they allowed a 5-run lead to evaporate. Catcher Dillon Dingler has the team's lone home run so far, while Torkelson, Greene, and Carpenter - who combined for 93 homers last season - remain homerless. Torkelson in particular has struggled, going just 6-for-62 with the bases loaded or runners in scoring position.

  • The Tigers opened the season 2-0 before dropping 4 straight games.
  • On Wednesday, the Tigers were shut out 1-0 by the Diamondbacks.

The players

Spencer Torkelson

A two-time 30-home run hitter who is off to a slow start, batting just .150 with 8 strikeouts in his first 20 at-bats.

A.J. Hinch

The Tigers' manager, who benched Torkelson in Wednesday's series finale in an effort to send a message to his struggling sluggers.

Dillon Dingler

The Tigers' catcher, who hit the team's lone home run of the season so far in the season opener.

Riley Greene

One of the Tigers' top power hitters, who is off to a 4-for-21 start with an average exit velocity of just 76.9 mph.

Kerry Carpenter

Another Tigers slugger who has struggled, collecting just 2 hits and 11 strikeouts to start the season.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to get our big bats going. This is not the start we envisioned, but we have to keep grinding and find a way to turn things around.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager

What’s next

The Tigers will look to get back on track this weekend as they host the Minnesota Twins for a 3-game series. Hinch will be hoping his lineup can find its power stroke and start producing runs in bunches.

The takeaway

The Tigers' early-season struggles highlight the importance of having a consistent, powerful lineup in Major League Baseball. While they have the talent, the Tigers' hitters have yet to find their groove, and they'll need to turn things around quickly if they want to compete in the AL Central.