The Detroit Tigers have some clear needs to address ahead of the MLB trade deadline, with arguably their most pressing being in the bullpen.

A look at the Tigers' deadline priorities and the cases for and against a right-handed bat and frontline starter.

When my nearly 90-year-old grandpa, Bill Birkle, was forced to the hospital for pneumonia, it was the Detroit Tigers that kept his mind off things.

The Tigers (60-42) have lost eight of their last nine games and now face the possibility of being swept by the last-place Pirates.

In his MLB debut, Detroit Detroit Tigers right-hander Troy Melton allowed 6 runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across 5 innings.

The Tigers entered Thursday night's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park still boasting one of the top 10 offenses in Major League Baseball. They're still third in the American League in runs, fourth in OPS and fourth in extra-base hits. But it's been a significant struggle lately.

Riley Greene will be the designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers on Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Tigers (60-40) start a three-game series at PNC Park against the Pirates (39-61) at 6:40 p.m. Catcher Jake Rogers; infielder Javier Baez; and outfielders Wenceel Perez and Jahmai Jones will be available off the bench.