Wed Sep 24 05:00:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: Tigers, Mets Face Potential Historic Collapses as Playoff Hopes Dim**

**[City, State] –** The Detroit Tigers and New York Mets are facing dramatic late-season collapses, jeopardizing their playoff aspirations and potentially etching their names into the history books for all the wrong reasons.

The Tigers, once seemingly destined for the postseason, have seen their commanding 14-game lead in the American League Central dwindle to a mere one game over the surging Cleveland Guardians. A dismal 5-13 September record stands in stark contrast to the Guardians’ impressive 16-4 run this month.

Meanwhile, in the National League, the Mets are struggling to maintain their playoff position. Despite being tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot, the Mets lose the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning they no longer control their own destiny. After boasting an MLB-best 45-24 record in June, the Mets have floundered, playing like a 97-loss team for over half the season. A six-game lead for a wild card spot on Sept. 4 has evaporated and they now sit outside the playoff picture for the first time since April 4.

The current struggles of the Tigers and Mets have drawn comparisons to some of the most infamous collapses in baseball history. These include:

* **2024 Texas Rangers:** Blowing a 4-game division lead with six games against their rivals
* **2011 Boston Red Sox:** Losing a nine-game wild card lead.
* **2011 Atlanta Braves:** A 9-18 September, blowing 7 1/2 game wild card lead
* **2009 Detroit Tigers:** A hot Twins team overcame a 7 game lead with a game 163 win.
* **2007 New York Mets:** Losing a seven-game division lead with 17 to play.
* **1995 California Angels:** A swoon after holding a 11-game lead in the AL West.
* **1978 Boston Red Sox:** Bucky Dent’s homerun capped a Yankees comeback from 14 games back
* **1969 Chicago Cubs:** A nine-game lead in August evaporates due to poor September.
* **1964 Philadelphia Phillies:** A 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play disappears.
* **1951 Brooklyn Dodgers:** A 13 1/2 game lead in August turns into an epic Giants comeback.

Can the Tigers and Mets reverse their fortunes and salvage their seasons? Or will they become the latest examples of epic baseball collapses, forever remembered for squandering promising positions? Only time will tell.

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