The Detroit Tigers are facing a pivotal moment in their season, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. On September 18, 2025, third baseman Colt Keith was forced to leave the game against the Cleveland Guardians in the third inning, clutching his lower back and repeatedly insisting, “I gotta come out of the game. I gotta come out of the game,” as manager A.J. Hinch recounted. The injury, described by Hinch as “very concerning,” sent Keith straight for imaging tests and left the Tigers scrambling for answers with just nine games remaining in the regular season.
Keith’s abrupt exit was a gut punch to a team already reeling from a rough stretch. The Tigers had just been swept by the Guardians, dropping seven of their last ten games and watching their once-comfortable American League Central lead shrink to a precarious 3.5 games. The mood in the clubhouse was somber, a far cry from the youthful energy that defined the early part of their campaign. As Hinch put it bluntly after Thursday’s loss, “We got our ass kicked in pretty much every aspect, and they swept us.”
For the Tigers, the timing of Keith’s injury couldn’t be worse. The 24-year-old has become Detroit’s semi-regular third baseman after starting the season in a nomadic role, bouncing between first, second, and designated hitter. His defense at third has drawn rave reviews, and offensively, he’s been a steady contributor with a .254/.332/.409 slash line, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 22 doubles across 136 games. As of Thursday, Keith had posted a .746 OPS (107 OPS+), providing a reliable bat in a lineup that has struggled for consistency.
“It’s very concerning this time of year, especially when he was that passionate about something going on in his back or side region,” Hinch said, echoing the anxiety felt throughout the organization. The Tigers’ medical staff wasted no time in sending Keith for imaging, but the uncertainty surrounding his status has cast a shadow over the final stretch of the season. With only nine games left, even a short stint on the injured list could mean Keith’s regular season is over—a scenario that would deal a significant blow to Detroit’s playoff hopes.
In Keith’s absence, the Tigers were forced to shuffle their infield. Trey Sweeney took over at shortstop, while Zach McKinstry shifted to third base. The options for replacing Keith on the roster are limited. Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jace Jung, both on the 40-man roster, are the most likely candidates. Malloy has missed several games recently in Triple-A Toledo for undisclosed reasons, and if called up, Sweeney and Javier Báez would likely share shortstop duties, with McKinstry and Andy Ibáñez covering third. Jung, a left-handed hitter, represents a more direct replacement for Keith, but his limited big league experience has been rocky. In 18 games for Detroit, Jung’s OPS hovered around .350, but he’s had a solid Triple-A season, slashing .252/.370/.447 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs in 110 games.
The Tigers’ struggles at third base have been well documented. After missing out on free agent Alex Bregman and losing utility man Matt Vierling to injury, the team entered the season with more questions than answers at the hot corner. Outside of Keith, only McKinstry and Ibáñez have logged more than 100 plate appearances at third, and both have been prone to streaky performance. If Keith is sidelined, Detroit will likely return to platooning the pair—a strategy that’s far from ideal but may be the safest option given the circumstances.
There’s also been chatter among fans about calling up top prospect Kevin McGonigle, but the organization has consistently stated that he won’t make his debut this year. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures, and with the fanbase growing anxious, the pressure to make a bold move is mounting. For now, though, the Tigers must wait for the results of Keith’s imaging before making any roster decisions.
The series finale against the Guardians was emblematic of Detroit’s recent woes. Tarik Skubal, returning from an injury scare, delivered a strong performance with six innings pitched, nine strikeouts, and just one run allowed. But the Tigers’ offense managed only a single run in support, squandering multiple opportunities with timely double plays and an out at the plate. Rookie Troy Melton, called upon in the seventh inning with the score tied at 1, left a cutter over the heart of the plate to José Ramírez, who promptly launched a two-run homer to give Cleveland a 3-1 lead—the eventual final score.
The sweep was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that had entered September with high expectations. Yet, despite the recent setbacks, the Tigers’ playoff odds remained high at 96.7 percent entering Thursday’s game. The AL Central race, however, has tightened considerably, and with three more games against the Guardians looming next week, the margin for error has all but vanished. “Obviously, in the big picture, it’s very disappointing,” Hinch admitted. “We come every day to win, and we like winning series, and we know how important these games are. We got some work ahead of us to do this right.”
Players have tried to downplay the mounting pressure, insisting that they’re not looking in the rearview mirror and are focused on flushing losses and moving forward. Outfielder Kerry Carpenter described his approach: “It’s just being honest. Looking in the mirror.” The consensus among the clubhouse is that the only way out of this funk is to start winning again. As Skubal put it, “Winning cures everything. It really does.”
Manager Hinch, for his part, isn’t buying into the idea that adversity is a necessary ingredient for postseason success. When a reporter suggested that tough times make the “champagne taste a little sweeter,” Hinch shot back, “No, you don’t. Whoever told you that is lying.” There’s no sugarcoating the situation—Detroit is in a dogfight, and every game from here on out carries heightened significance.
With nine games left, the Tigers stand at a crossroads. The health of Colt Keith hangs over the team like a dark cloud, and the next roster move could define their season. Whether it’s a return to platooning, a call-up from Triple-A, or a surprise decision, Detroit’s response to this adversity will be closely watched by fans and rivals alike. As the AL Central race heats up, the Tigers’ resilience—and their depth—are about to be tested like never before.
For now, Detroit waits on the fate of their young third baseman and prepares for a crucial series against the Atlanta Braves. The energy in the clubhouse may be subdued, but the stakes have never been higher. The Tigers’ playoff destiny, once seemingly secure, now hangs in the balance with every pitch, every at-bat, and every decision in the final days of the regular season.
