The Detroit Tigers' unconventional "pitching chaos" strategy fell flat on Saturday, as their losing streak stretched to five games with a 5-1 defeat to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Saturday marked five games since the Tigers placed two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the injured list. Skubal, who would have started this game, is still recovering from surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow. Without their ace, Detroit has now lost 12 of their last 19 contests.

The Tigers (18-22) turned to the unorthodox opener-bulk reliever approach that famously fueled their magical 2024 postseason run. But this time, the chaos backfired. Right-handed opener Burch Smith surrendered two runs in the first inning, including an inside-the-park home run. Right-hander Ty Madden, called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace Skubal, served as the bulk reliever and allowed a three-run homer in the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, the Royals' pitching was anything but chaotic. Right-hander Michael Wacha was dominant over seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six. Left-handed reliever Matt Strahm and right-hander Steven Cruz closed out the final two frames without incident. The Tigers' only hits off Wacha were an infield single from Kerry Carpenter and a double by Spencer Torkelson.

The Tigers will try to avoid a sweep on Sunday in another bullpen-only game, as left-hander Framber Valdez misses his scheduled start due to a suspension.