The 2019 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 119th season. This was the team's second year under manager Ron Gardenhire. They finished the season 47–114, their worst since 2003 when they went 43–119. It was their first 100-loss season for the team since said season. It was also the second straight season where any team finished with fewer than 50 wins, after the 2018 Orioles who themselves finished with only 47 wins. The Tigers only played 161 games in 2019 due to a late-season rainout in Chicago which was not made up due to both teams missing the playoffs. After the Tigers won 7 of their first 10 games, the team lost 111 of the next 151 games. The stretch included eight different losing streaks of 5+ games, including a season-long nine-game losing streak from May 13–23. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention on August 24. On September 25, the Tigers secured the first overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. With a loss in their final home game to the Minnesota Twins on September 26, the Tigers tied the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the most home losses (59) during a season in the modern era. Announcer changes Beginning this season, Fox Sports Detroit television announcers Mario Impemba and Rod Allen, who had been together since 2003, were no longer in the broadcast booth. Their contracts were not renewed due to an alleged physical altercation that occurred after the game on September 4, 2018. On January 14, 2019, veteran sportscaster Matt Shepard was named play-by-play man, former Tigers teammates Kirk Gibson and Jack Morris were named color commentators, and Dan Petry was hired as a second studio analyst. Gibson was also named special assistant to the general manager on January 28. Shepard sat out 17 games, with Morris, Gibson, Petry and field reporter/studio analyst and former Tiger Craig Monroe sharing his duties instead. Roster moves Releases On October 3, infielder Dixon Machado elected free agency. On December 3, he first signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins with an invitation to spring training. Machado ended up signing a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on March 30 after being released by the Marlins at the end of spring training. On October 24, outfielder Jim Adduci elected free agency after being dropped from the 40-man roster. On December 19, he signed a minor-league contract