Tigers' struggling bullpen allows late run in loss to Rangers

Detroit — A middle-innings rally wasn’t enough as starting pitcher Jack Flaherty struggled again for the Tigers and Detroit dropped a series opener, 5-4, to Texas on Friday evening at Comerica Park. The Tigers had put together a four-run rally across the fourth and fifth innings, only to give up a run in the top of the eighth inning as the ultimate dagger. And all it took was two sharp hits into left field, a double off the bat of Jake Berger, who then scored when Alejandro Osuna rocketed another double, this one past a diving Hao-Yu Lee at third base.

Lee stood at the edge of the infield grass as received the ball from the outfield, shaking off the discomfort of a dive into the dirt and perhaps frustration at seeing the comeback efforts of recent innings come undone. Riley ties it up! pic.

twitter. com/PyfHFqWKz4 — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 2, 2026 Flaherty had another rough start, going 3. 2 innings with four runs allowed, three walks and five hits to four strikeouts.

What plagued Flaherty on Friday night is what has caused him trouble for much of 2026: Finding control and limiting walks. He recovered well from a pair of singles that pushed across a run in the first inning, opening the second inning with a pair of strikeouts looking, freezing Berger and then Osuna with fastballs before a foul pop up to Dillon Dingler for the third out put the Rangers down in order. In the top of the third inning, though, Flaherty faltered, starting by giving up a solo home run to Danny Jansen to leadoff the inning.