DETROIT -- The home run from Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was still in the air, heading for Comerica Park’s right-field bleachers, when Reese Olson shook his head in disgust at the curveball he had hung. He had never given up a home run off his curve in his Major League career, but that one was mid-zone.

A couple of innings later, Olson was shouting into his glove after Abrams hit a fastball over the fence in left-center, albeit on a hop for an RBI ground-rule double.

“There were some rough pitches,” manager A.J. Hinch said.

This was not the hard-luck hurler who had been posting zeros and lacking run support for the first two months this season. The Tigers rallied late but fell short in the 7-5 loss, but Olson was also hittable, and not just by Abrams.

“I let the team down, didn’t get enough outs,” Olson said. “I feel like this one’s on me.”

Olson ended May with a 1.92 ERA, putting him just outside the top five among AL pitchers, and a 1.05 WHIP. Despite a 1-5 record, he had a sneaky case for All-Star consideration. With five runs, four earned, over 5 1/3 innings Wednesday, and 17 earned runs over his past three starts, his ERA now stands at 3.68. He has allowed 28 hits over 14 2/3 innings in June, bumping his WHIP to 1.28.

It’s not simply a case of good pitches finding holes in the defense, though Detroit’s infield left much to be desired. This is a test for Olson, his first extended stretch of struggles in the big leagues. How he responds will impact Detroit’s rotation going into the heart of summer and next month’s Trade Deadline.

“This is an adjustment league,” Hinch said. “I mean, he’s not a surprise to anybody anymore. He’s been up here for 30-plus starts.”

Olson has been here before and met the challenge. Two years ago at Double-A Erie, he seemed close to a promotion to Triple-A Toledo when he encountered midseason struggles that included seven homers in a four-start stretch, followed by three consecutive fourth-inning exits. He made the adjustments he needed with Tigers pitching instructors, including fastball command, put together a solid stretch run and became a more consistent strikeout pitcher for it.

Olson points out that he’s a different pitcher these days, and he’s right. He didn’t have the quality of breaking pitches that he does now, notably the high-spin slider, or the command. But going through those struggles, and the troubleshooting and adjustments they required, provides an experience that a pitcher who sailed through the farm system might not have.

“I guess I can look back on that and see what helped me through it,” Olson said.

Both Olson and Hinch see room for improvement in pitch location, notably with his changeup. The Brewers’ 12-hit barrage against him on Friday included damage on changeups that were elevated in the strike zone. Olson seemed to make a point of pounding the bottom of the zone with changeups and fastballs early against the Nationals, which helped him maneuver through Washington’s lineup the first time through the order with one hit allowed, one strikeout and three groundouts.

Abrams’ homer began Olson’s rocky second trip through the order, which included four hits -- three for extra bases -- two walks, a sac fly, a groundout and a strikeout. Once Abrams’ began Olson’s third trip through the order with the double, Olson was in for a rough finish, retiring three of his final 10 batters.

Olson induced seven swinging strikes on his changeup Wednesday, but the four balls in play off of it averaged 102.3 miles per hour in exit velocity.

“Didn’t feel like I was executing it the right way,” Olson said of his changeup. “Kind of the same thing as my last outing. Didn’t feel like I’m executing the same way I was a few weeks ago.”

Between pitching coaches Chris Fetter, Juan Nieves and Robin Lund, he’s in the right place to work on pitches. He’s also in the right frame of mind to do it.

“I know I have the ability to be a good pitcher in this league,” Olson said. “It wasn’t very long [ago] that it felt like every time I went out there, I was putting up six, seven zeros. Just kind of gotta flush this rough patch that I’m going through and work with the staff here, and I’m confident I’m going to get back on track.”

Said Hinch: “It’s nothing that he’s going to back down from. He’s unflappable. If anything, he’s seeing how difficult this league can be.”