The Detroit Tigers' defensive woes were on full display as they suffered a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, and there's no one to blame but themselves.

While it would be easy to point fingers at the team's mounting pitching injuries, that wasn't the issue tonight. Jack Flaherty showed signs of progress on the mound, even if his command wavered at times. With an off day tomorrow providing a much-needed breather, the bullpen was fully available. The problem wasn't the pitching—it was the defense.

Offensively, the Tigers simply couldn't solve Sonny Gray. The veteran right-hander has been a thorn in Detroit's side for years, and tonight was no different. Aside from that memorable Game 5 of the 2013 ALDS, the Tigers have rarely found success against Gray. When a pitcher tops out around 94 mph, you'd expect Detroit to figure him out—but that just hasn't been the case. After the first few innings, it was clear the offense had no answers.

But the real frustration lies in the defensive lapses. Time and again, the Tigers have beaten themselves with self-inflicted mistakes. Baseball is already a tough game, with major league opponents doing everything to disrupt your rhythm. You can be talented—even great—and still lose 60 games a year. But losing because of mental errors and on-field missteps is unacceptable, especially for a team that can't afford to give away games while dealing with injuries.

This stretch demanded cleaner baseball, and the Tigers have delivered anything but. The off day tomorrow offers a chance to reset, but it won't fix the fundamental issues unless the team takes a hard look in the mirror.

Detroit now heads to Kansas City to face the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, with Keider Montero—who wasn't even in the opening day plans—taking the mound. It's going to take more than a day off to turn this ship around.