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2020 Detroit Tigers season

Major League Baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2020 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 120th season. This was the team's third and final year under manager Ron Gardenhire, and their 21st at Comerica Park.[1][2] The start of season was delayed by four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigers finished the season with a 23–35 record, ranking last in their division and third-worst in the major leagues, and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. For the second straight season, the Tigers pitching staff compiled the MLB's worst team ERA (6.37).[3]

Record23–35 (.397)
OwnersChristopher Ilitch; Ilitch family trust
Quick facts Detroit Tigers, League ...
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The Tigers franchise experienced a major loss on April 6 when Hall of Famer Al Kaline died at the age of 85. Nicknamed "Mr. Tiger," Kaline had been affiliated with the team for 67 years in various roles: first as a player, then as a broadcaster, and most recently, as an executive.[4] The Tigers wore a No. 6 patch this season to honor him.[5]

On September 19, manager Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement from baseball effective immediately, due to recent health concerns including stress, a bout with prostate cancer, and a stomach virus due to food poisoning. Bench coach Lloyd McClendon was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.[6]

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[7] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[8]

On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps at their regular season home stadiums on July 1 in order to resume spring training, which included only inter-squad games, and prepare for a July 23 or 24 Opening Day.[9] In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, teams only played their own division and the opposite league's corresponding geographical division, e.g. the Tigers only played American League Central (40 games total) and National League Central (20 games total) opponents.[10] Games were played behind closed doors, with artificial crowd noise played over loud speakers.[11]

On June 24, two members of the Tigers organization (later identified as pitcher Daniel Norris and a coach) tested positive for COVID-19.[12][13] Norris was later cleared to join the Opening Day roster.[12]

The Tigers' August 3–6 series against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed several times after 17 of the latter's members tested positive for COVID-19. Two of the games were eventually canceled outright.[14]

Roster moves

Coaching staff

Releases

Signings

  • On December 8, the Tigers signed outfielder Jorge Bonifacio to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training.[35]
  • On December 12, the Tigers claimed pitcher Rony García from the New York Yankees organization in the Rule 5 draft.[36]
  • On December 13, the Tigers signed catcher Austin Romine to a one-year, $4.15 million contract.[37]
  • On December 18, the Tigers signed pitcher Shao-Ching Chiang to a minor-league contract.[38]
  • On December 20, the Tigers signed pitcher Zack Godley to a minor-league contract.[39]
  • On December 21, the Tigers signed first baseman C. J. Cron and second baseman Jonathan Schoop to one-year, $6.1 million contracts.[40]
  • On January 4, the Tigers signed pitcher Alex Wilson to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training.[41]
  • On January 6, the Tigers signed pitcher Michael Fulmer to a one-year, $2.8 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[42]
  • On January 10, the Tigers avoided arbitration when they reached one-year deals with pitchers Matthew Boyd ($5.3 million), Buck Farmer ($1.15 million) and Daniel Norris ($2.962 million), and outfielder JaCoby Jones ($1.575 million).[43]
  • On January 13, the Tigers signed pitcher Iván Nova to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[44]
  • On January 22, the Tigers signed pitcher Hector Santiago to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training.[45]
  • On January 30, the Tigers signed shortstop Jordy Mercer to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training.[46]
  • On February 12, the Tigers signed outfielder Cameron Maybin to a one-year, $1.5 million contract which could increase to $2.8 million with bonuses.[47]
  • On August 31, the Tigers claimed pitcher Dereck Rodríguez off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.[48]

Trades

Season standings

American League Central

More information Team, W ...
AL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 3624 .600 247 1217
Cleveland Indians 3525 .583 1 1812 1713
Chicago White Sox 3525 .583 1 1812 1713
Kansas City Royals 2634 .433 10 1515 1119
Detroit Tigers 2335 .397 12 1215 1120
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Record against opponents

More information Team, NL ...
Team CWS CLE DET KC MIN NL
Chicago 2–89–19–15–510–10
Cleveland 8–27–35–53–712–8
Detroit 1–93–74–64–611–7
Kansas City 1–95–56–45–59–11
Minnesota 5–57–36–45–513–7
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American League Wild Card

More information Team, W ...
Division leaders
Team W L Pct.
Tampa Bay Rays 4020 .667
Oakland Athletics 3624 .600
Minnesota Twins 3624 .600
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More information Team, W ...
Division 2nd place
Team W L Pct.
Cleveland Indians 3525 .583
New York Yankees 3327 .550
Houston Astros 2931 .483
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More information Team, W ...
Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)
Team W L Pct. GB
Chicago White Sox 3525 .583 +3
Toronto Blue Jays 3228 .533
Seattle Mariners 2733 .450 5
Los Angeles Angels 2634 .433 6
Kansas City Royals 2634 .433 6
Baltimore Orioles 2535 .417 7
Boston Red Sox 2436 .400 8
Detroit Tigers 2335 .397 8
Texas Rangers 2238 .367 10
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Season highlights

Individual accomplishments

Pitching

Hitting

Team accomplishments

Hitting

  • On August 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tigers hit four home runs in the first inning for the first time since 1974, and the first time the Tigers hit four home runs in any inning since 2013. This was the first time an MLB team accomplished this since the Kansas City Royals in 2018. The Tigers hit three consecutive home runs in an inning for the first time since 2017.[61]

Other

  • On August 21, the Tigers ended a franchise-record 20-game losing streak against the Cleveland Indians, winning 10–5. Only one MLB team has had a longer losing streak against another team, that being the Kansas City Royals who lost 23 straight to the Baltimore Orioles between May 10, 1969, and August 2, 1970.[62]

Game log

More information #, Date ...
2020 Game Log: 23–35 (Home 12–16, Road 11–19)
July: 5–3 (Home 3–2, Road 2–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
1July 24@ Reds1–7Gray (1–0)Boyd (0–1)0–1L1
2July 25@ Reds6–4Farmer (1–0)Iglesias (0–1)Jiménez (1)1–1W1
3July 26@ Reds3–2Cisnero (1–0)Lorenzen (0–1)Jiménez (2)2–1W2
4July 27Royals6–14Griffin (1–0)Funkhouser (0–1)2–2L1
5July 28Royals4–3Alexander (1–0)Zuber (0–1)Jiménez (3)3–2W1
6July 29Royals5–4Garcia (1–0)Kennedy (0–1)Jiménez (4)4–2W2
7July 30Royals3–5Holland (1–0)Cisnero (1–1)Rosenthal (1)4–3L1
8July 31Reds7–2Turnbull (1–0)Castillo (0–1)5–3W1
August: 11–13 (Home 6–8, Road 5–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
August 1RedsPostponed (inclement weather). Rescheduled to August 2.
9August 2Reds3–4 (7)Iglesias (1–1)Jiménez (0–1)5–4L1
10August 2Reds0–4 (7)Bauer (1–0)Norris (0–1)5–5L2
August 3CardinalsPostponed (Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak). Rescheduled to September 28.
August 4CardinalsPostponed (Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak). Rescheduled to September 28.
August 5@ CardinalsPostponed (Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak). Rescheduled to September 10.
August 6@ CardinalsPostponed (Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak). Rescheduled to September 10.
11August 7@ Pirates17–13 (11)Garcia (2–0)Neverauskas (0–2)6–5W1
12August 8@ Pirates11–5Nova (1–0)Holland (0–1)7–5W2
13August 9@ Pirates2–1Turnbull (2–0)Rodríguez (0–1)Jiménez (5)8–5W3
14August 10White Sox5–1Norris (1–1)Keuchel (2–2)9–5W4
15August 11White Sox4–8Foster (2–0)Alexander (1–1)9–6L1
16August 12White Sox5–7Cease (3–1)Boyd (0–2)Colomé (5)9–7L2
17August 14Indians5–10Civale (2–2)Nova (1–1)9–8L3
18August 15Indians1–3Bieber (4–0)Turnbull (2–1)Hand (5)9–9L4
19August 16Indians5–8Pérez (1–0)Schreiber (0–1)9–10L5
20August 17@ White Sox2–7Heuer (1–0)Boyd (0–3)9–11L6
21August 18@ White Sox4–10Cease (4–1)Skubal (0–1)9–12L7
22August 19@ White Sox3–5Marshall (1–1)Soto (0–1)Colomé (6)9–13L8
23August 20@ White Sox0–9Giolito (2–2)Turnbull (2–2)9–14L9
24August 21@ Indians10–5García (1–0)Plutko (1–2)10–14W1
25August 22@ Indians1–6McKenzie (1–0)Boyd (0–4)10–15L1
26August 23@ Indians7–4Norris (2–1)Carrasco (2–3)11–15W1
27August 24Cubs3–9Mills (3–2)Mize (0–1)11–16L1
28August 25Cubs7–1Turnbull (3–2)Chatwood (2–2)12–16W1
29August 26Cubs7–6Jiménez (1–1)Tepera (0–1)13–16W2
August 27TwinsPostponed (strikes due to shooting of Jacob Blake); Rescheduled to August 28.
August 28TwinsPostponed (inclement weather). Rescheduled to August 29.
August 28TwinsPostponed (inclement weather). Rescheduled to September 4 at Target Field.
30August 29Twins8–2 (7)Boyd (1–4)Dobnak (5–2)14–16W3
31August 29Twins4–2 (7)Skubal (1–1)Duffey (1–1)Soto (1)15–16W4
32August 30Twins3–2Alexander (2–1)Maeda (4–1)Soto (2)16–16W5
September: 7–19 (Home 3–6, Road 4–13)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
33September 1@ Brewers12–1Norris (3–1)Lindblom (1–3)17–16W6
34September 2@ Brewers5–8Yardley (2–0)Jiménez (1–2)Hader (9)17–17L1
35September 4@ Twins0–2 (7)Dobnak (6–2)Boyd (1–5)Rogers (8)17–18L2
36September 4@ Twins [a]2–3 (8)Romo (1–1)Jiménez (1–3)May (2)17–19L3
37September 5@ Twins3–4Alcalá (2–1)Cisnero (1–2)17–20L4
38September 6@ Twins10–8Funkhouser (1–1)Romo (1–2)Garcia (1)18–20W1
39September 7@ Twins2–6Pineda (1–0)Fulmer (0–1)18–21L1
40September 8Brewers8–3Turnbull (4–2)Houser (1–4)19–21W1
41September 9Brewers0–19Burnes (3–0)Boyd (1–6)19–22L1
42September 10@ Cardinals2–12 (7)Flaherty (3–1)Skubal (1–2)19–23L2
43September 10@ Cardinals6–3 (7)Cisnero (2–2)Gallegos (1–2)Garcia (2)20–23W1
44September 11@ White Sox3–4Marshall (2–1)Cisnero (2–3)Colomé (10)20–24L1
45September 12@ White Sox0–14López (1–2)Fulmer (0–2)20–25L2
46September 13@ White Sox2–5Cordero (1–2)Turnbull (4–3)Colomé (11)20–26L3
47September 15Royals6–0Boyd (2–6)Junis (0–2)21–26W1
48September 16Royals0–4Singer (3–4)Skubal (1–3)21–27L1
49September 17Indians3–10Bieber (8–1)Mize (0–2)21–28L2
50September 18Indians0–1Plesac (4–2)Alexander (2–2)Hand (13)21–29L3
51September 19Indians5–2Cisnero (3–3)Maton (2–3)Garcia (3)22–29W1
52September 20Indians4–7Carrasco (3–4)Boyd (2–7)22–30L1
53September 22@ Twins4–5 (10)Rogers (2–4)Garcia (2–1)22–31L2
54September 23@ Twins6–7Maeda (6–1)Mize (0–3)Romo (5)22–32L3
55September 24@ Royals7–8Hahn (1–0)Alexander (2–3)Newberry (1)22–33L4
56September 25@ Royals2–3Keller (5–3)Turnbull (4–4)Hahn (2)22–34L5
57September 26@ Royals4–3Boyd (3–7)Hernández (0–1)Garcia (4)23–34W1
58September 27@ Royals1–3Singer (4–5)Skubal (1–4)Hahn (3)23–35L1
59September 28CardinalsCancelled
60September 28CardinalsCancelled
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Tigers team member
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Notes:

  • a The Tigers were designated the home team for the makeup game from August 28.[63]

Roster

2020 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other Batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

More information Player, G ...
Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
Sergio Alcántara 1021230111.1430
Jorge Bonifacio 308681930217.2210
Miguel Cabrera 572042851401035.2501
Daz Cameron 17574112103.1931
Jeimer Candelario 521853055113729.2971
Harold Castro 22496174003.3470
Willi Castro 36129214542624.3490
C. J. Cron 1342983048.1900
Travis Demeritte 1829551004.1720
Brandon Dixon 513011002.0770
Niko Goodrum 43158152971520.1847
Grayson Greiner 1851862038.1180
Eric Haase 717130002.1760
Derek Hill 1511310002.0910
JaCoby Jones 3097192690514.2681
Dawel Lugo 910320001.2000
Cameron Maybin+ 14415104012.2440
Jordy Mercer+ 39120001.2220
Isaac Paredes 341007224016.2200
Víctor Reyes 57202305672414.2778
Austin Romine 37130123150217.2380
Jonathan Schoop 44162264542823.2780
Christin Stewart 36906153039.1670
Team totals 581893249463781262242.24519
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+Totals with Tigers only.

Pitching

Starters and other pitchers

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

More information Player, W ...
Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
Tyler Alexander233.96142036+131616934
Matthew Boyd376.711212060+1346452260
Michael Fulmer028.781010027+2327271220
Casey Mize036.9977028+1325221326
Iván Nova118.5344019181899
Tarik Skubal145.638703221201137
Spencer Turnbull443.971111056+2325252921
Jordan Zimmermann007.943205+236526
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Bullpen

More information Player, W ...
Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
Beau Burrows005.405006+234413
Anthony Castro0018.0010012211
José Cisnero333.03290029+2310101034
Buck Farmer103.80230021+1399514
Carson Fulmer006.757006+235537
Kyle Funkhouser117.27130017+1314141112
Bryan Garcia211.66260421+23641012
Rony García108.141520212019914
Joe Jiménez137.15250522+231918622
David McKay1054.00100132210
Daniel Norris313.25141027+231010728
Nick Ramirez005.9150010+2377411
John Schreiber016.32150015+231111414
Gregory Soto014.3027022311111329
Team Pitching Totals 23355.63585811492+13318308192444
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Farm system

See also

References

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