Tigers vs – The Detroit Tigers begin the second half of a six-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins, with the AL Central cellar and a 2.5-game gap to the Tigers’ closest rivals in view. Right-hander Troy Melton starts for Detroit after an eight-innin
Tuesday night at Comerica Park arrives with a specific kind of pressure—one you can feel in the standings before the first pitch.
The Detroit Tigers open the second half of their current six-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins. and the timing matters. AJ Hinch’s squad has five wins in six tries so far this month against the leaders of the American League East and West divisions. and now they have a chance to make up ground in the AL Central this week.
Right now, Detroit sits in the division cellar alongside the Kansas City Royals. The Twins are 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers in the standings. The Cleveland Guardians lead the pack, while the Chicago White Sox trail not too far behind.
For Detroit, the homestand isn’t just about getting back to .500 play—it’s about keeping pace while they’re still buried. The series opener brings a matchup built for contrasting rhythms: a pitcher riding momentum against one who’s had to work through rougher stretches.
Troy Melton. a right-hander for the Tigers. takes the mound after an eight-inning performance against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Pete. He allowed just two runs on four hits, including one home run, and issued two walks while striking out five. The effort sent him to his second win of the 2026 campaign.
Melton is 25 years old, and this is only the second time he’ll face Minnesota in his major league career. The last time came in relief last year on Aug. 5 at Comerica Park. He threw a pair of hitless. scoreless frames. allowed two walks. struck out one. and still ended up on the wrong side of a 6-3 loss for Detroit.
On the other side, Minnesota counters with fellow right-hander Taj Bradley. His recent season has been uneven. Bradley missed some time in May due to right pectoral inflammation and. since returning to the rotation. has made three starts with an ugly 5.93 ERA. The more stabilizing number is his 3.40 FIP across 13 2/3 innings. In those outings, he’s allowed 15 hits and nine walks while striking out 18.
Bradley faced Detroit earlier this season on April 7 at Comerica Park. In that start, he earned a quality start on 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He allowed six hits and no walks while striking out 10 and also hit a pair of batters. The result gave him his second win of the year, with Detroit dropping a 4-2 final.
Detroit (27-39) hosts Minnesota (30-37) in what is set as Game 67. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
For fans following from home, the broadcast options include Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, and the Tigers Radio Network. The listed pitching matchup for Tuesday night is RHP Troy Melton (2-0, 1.74 ERA) against RHP Taj Bradley (5-2, 3.56 ERA).
Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins AJ Hinch Troy Melton Taj Bradley Comerica Park AL Central standings MLB homestand
Cellar stakes?? I’m just here for the Tigers bats tbh.
So they’re losing and that’s why it’s pressure? I thought baseball was like… win or go home every night lol. Melton gave up a homer but only two runs, so that feels good?
2.5 games behind sounds like nothing but also apparently it’s like the end of the world. Also Comerica Park is always loud so how are the Royals even in the same cellar? Maybe the standings updated wrong because I swear I saw them doing better last week.
I don’t get why this is the “second half” of anything, isn’t the season like already half over? Tigers keep saying they gotta get back to .500 but then they’re still buried under the Guardians and White Sox? Like which is it, are they making up ground or just stuck. Also Troy Melton had 8 innings?? That’s insane… unless they mean the game went 8 and he wasn’t even the starter. Either way I just want them to win at home.