Detroit Tigers, Game 23: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 8-6 loss to the Red Sox on Monday: One thing I loved Jahmai Jones' season was stuck in the mud for most of the first three weeks, when opponents seemed to think it was against the law to use a left-handed starting pitcher against them. Jones is on this team solely to hit lefties, thanks to that . 970 OPS against southpaws in 2025.

But it took until Game 19 for him to get his first start of 2026. He got the sporadic pinch-hit opportunities early in the year, but that's a tough gig, and it showed in the numbers. He was 0-for-10 (some of those at-bats off right-handers, having stayed in the game after pinch-hitting against a lefty), and then got a nasty bout of the flu , before he finally got his first start of the year Thursday.

Since then, the Tigers have faced a flurry of left-handed starters, and right on cue, Jones's bat has perked up, with five hits, a home run and three RBIs in his last 11 at-bats. That included a pinch-hit RBI single to give the Tigers the 3-2 lead in Monday's game, on an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox lefty Jovani Moran in the sixth inning. It was just the second hit on an 0-2 pitch in Jones' major-league career.

oh Jahmai where do i begin pic. twitter. com/XH9pkCP6vH — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 20, 2026 One thing I didn't The command issues with Tigers starter Jack Flaherty remain maddening.