It was a night of highs and lows for the Detroit Tigers in their 42nd game of the season, a 10-2 loss to the New York Mets that showcased both the team's bright spots and its persistent struggles. Tony Paul of The News breaks down the one thing he loved and one thing he didn't from Tuesday's contest.

One Thing I Loved: Kevin McGonigle's Glove

If you've been following the Tigers closely, you've likely heard the whispers about rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle. "Yes," his good pal Max Clark told me a few weeks back with a knowing smile. "He can play defense." No kidding.

McGonigle is already in the early Rookie of the Year conversation in the American League, thanks largely to his bat—he's hitting .300 with a .403 on-base percentage after notching two more hits Tuesday. But his glove and arm have been equally impressive. He made a couple of spectacular plays at shortstop Tuesday night, including a Derek Jeter-esque gem in the third inning that kept the game tied when it was still a contest. Earlier, he nearly started an improbable inning-ending double play with another standout effort.

McGonigle began the season primarily at third base, but when Parker Meadows went down with an injury, Javier Báez shifted to center field, opening up shortstop for the rookie. There have been some hiccups, sure, but the highlights are piling up. On a Tigers team that has struggled defensively, McGonigle is proving he can, in fact, play defense—making him a true outlier in Motown.

One Thing I Didn't: The Power Outage

Nobody expected these Tigers to be the second coming of Murderers' Row, but we probably—perhaps naively—expected a bit more pop. Entering Tuesday's series opener against the Mets, Detroit had hit just 37 home runs, placing them in the bottom third of baseball. They're only as high as 22nd because of one seven-game surge, aided in part by a three-game series at the bandbox that is Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Here's a breakdown of the Tigers' homers this season: Dillon Dingler provided the lone highlight Tuesday, launching a hanging slider from Mets starter Freddy Peralta for a solo shot in the second inning. It was Dingler's team-leading seventh home run. But Peralta learned fast—the next nine pitches he threw Dingler were all fastballs, and Dingler struck out twice.

The biggest power outage for Detroit in 2026 has come from Colt Keith, who has yet to find his rhythm at the plate. For a team that needs every run it can get, the lack of home run production is a growing concern that could define the season if it doesn't turn around soon.