The 85.5 Win Total That Haunts Detroit and Nobody in Baseball Expected This Collapse

Alright, Mariners faithful, can you believe we're almost 40% through the 2026 MLB season already? June 2nd, and the picture's getting clearer, right? While some teams like the Rays, Braves, and Guardians are feeling pretty darn good, others are absolute disaster zones. Shoutout to our boys for not being on *this* list. But let's dive into the three teams falling so far short of expectations, it's honestly kinda shocking. The hype was real for some, and now? Oof.

Detroit's World Series Hopes Are Flatlining

Remember the Detroit Tigers hype? Fresh off a solid 2025 postseason run, even after a regular season collapse, the media called them a trendy World Series pick for 2026. Preseason win total: a confident 85.5. Now? A dismal 23-38. When you play this poorly for nearly three months, it's not bad luck, it's just who you are. Injuries hammered their pitching, sure, but their lineup has been one of the worst over the last 162 games. They're 26th in runs, 27th in OPS, 20th in homers, and 22nd in strikeouts. Even with a healthy mound, this offense isn't cutting it. The biggest gut punch for Tigers fans: they'll likely trade ace Tarik Skubal at the deadline. That's the official 'pause' button on their championship window. Brutal.

The Mets and Royals Are Just as Lost in the Maze

Across the league, the New York Mets feel that same pain. Preseason win total: 90.5. Their 26-34 record is a head-scratcher. Like the Tigers, a horrific collapse in late 2025 missing the postseason wasn't a fluke, it showed a poorly constructed team. It got worse. They let Pete Alonso walk in free agency. His replacements, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr., combined for a brutal -0.8 WAR. Their pitching, to its credit, has been competitive, 8th best ERA. But the National League is absolutely stacked. The Mets are destined to be sellers at the deadline unless they somehow believe their +390 odds to make the playoffs. And the Kansas City Royals. They might be happier about Detroit's struggles, but that doesn't mean *they're* doing well. Pundits had the Tigers winning their division, Royals close behind, hoping their pitching would carry them if the offense was league average. Well, the offense is still one of baseball's worst, 26th in OPS. Even worse? Their pitching, 6th in ERA last year, fell off a cliff to 20th this season. The one bright spot for Kansas City fans: Bobby Witt Jr. is putting together another MVP-caliber season. But even with that, they'll likely make deadline moves, hoping to compete next year instead. So yeah, while our Mariners are grinding, making moves, and building something special in the Emerald City, serious storylines unfold elsewhere. These teams, after all that hype, struggle to find answers with almost 40% of the season in the books. It just shows you, folks, preseason predictions are often just that. Let's keep our eyes on our boys, cheering them on from T-Mobile Park. Every game matters. You know we'll be here, screaming ourselves hoarse. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.