The Tigers wasted a chance to jump on a struggling White Sox team last night, as a leadoff run and a fielder-assisted home run by Alex Avila was all the offense they could muster. Shane Greene struggled again, but the bullpen picked him up with 5 sharp scoreless innings; however, the Tigers never really offered a threat. They say hitting is contagious; apparently slumping is also, and the infectious zone is the middle of the lineup: the 3–6 hitters were a combined 0-for-15.

Which brings us to Victor Martinez, the leader of the slump-pack. Actually “slump” is a bad word for where Victor is at right now, he’s just not able to drive the ball, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. I know the poor guy is trying his best out there, but hey, I’m trying my best to write a good post today and still this is all you get.

I mentioned a week or so ago that Victor Martinez was the worst #4 hitter in the league, and it’s gotten worse, to the point where he is now pushing for League’s Least Valuable Player:  going by WAR, Victor is more valuable than all of *2* players in the entire American League, Rene Rivera on the Rays, and Matt Joyce on LA (Matt Joyce? How’d that happen?). I know it’s early to be looking at WAR, but I’d be shocked if Victor’s is any better at the end of the month.

So what to do? One solution would be to at least get him out of the 4th spot. Replacing him is harder now that JD is in a huge slump, but I’d go with Cespedes. It doesn’t matter though; moving a guy like Victor to the bottom of the order is never going to happen, too many Respect issues involved. Which leaves giving him an extended rest, and replacing him at DH (I’d go with Rajai or even Romine, and make it a speed lineup). Victor doesn’t want the rest though, and in fact says he needs the at bats. And those that know these things say 15 days off isn’t going to help his knee much anyway. So we are where we are.

The Tigers went through this with Victor in 2013 also, when he was coming back from a previous injury. He stood out a bit less then, batting 5th between Prince Fielder and a hot Jhonny Peralta, but as of June 30, 2013, he was hitting .232 with a .627 OPS, which beats this season’s .203 /.531, but still isn’t acceptable DH work. The second half of the season he hit .361 with a .940 OPS, including a ridiculous .390 in July. So I guess the plan is to just suck it up and hope history repeats itself.

In other news, Green means go!!! Thus tweets Justin Verlander, who has begun throwing again, and it sounds like he can’t wait to get back to it. And speaking of getting back to it, earning a promotion to Toledo is none other than Ryan Perry, who last appeared in a MLB game in 2012.

Today’s Can Victor Stay Above the Inge Line? Lineup:

1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
6. JD Martinez, RF
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. James McCann C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Jose has loosened up groin-wise, and returns, as the struggling JD Martinez slides down a spot in the lineup. McCann takes over for the hot bat of Alex Avila with a lefty on the mound.

David Price responded in true ace form yesterday, with a 5 hit masterpiece that was 1 out from being a complete game shutout. KC fans went nuts after Cain hit a bomb to trim the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th, but Price responded by striking out Hosmer in 4 pitches. It was a desperately need win b/c the prospects of being swept in a 4 game series against what looks to be our division rival were harrowing. I’m not surprised that Price came out for the 9th, since he was only at 91 pitches entering the 9th. I think it would have been Soria had he been at 101.

Anibal Sanchez climbs the hill today against Mark Guthrie. A win today and split in the series will feel like a series win to me.

J.D. Martinez back in the lineup today. Rajai Davis had a huge run in yesterday’s game. I like this Gose/Davis platoon.

Baseball Reference game preview here.

1. Gose, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Cespedes, LF
7. Avila, C
8. Castellanos, 3B
9. Iglesias, SS

We’re gonna win one, right?

It’s time for David Price to step up and be the ace that he’s paid to be. The Tigers made the game interesting last night with a couple of baserunners in the 9th inning, but fell short again to the mighty Royals. After starting the season 7-0, the Tigers are now 8-9 in their last 17.

Incredibly, Price doesn’t have much history against the Royals, having only pitched against them 3 times in the last 6 years. He somehow went all of 2013 and 2014 without facing them.

Baseball Reference Game Preview here.

J.D. Martinez who is 0-8 with 6 Ks in the series sits tonight. Hope you’re enjoying your epic sports watching Saturday.

1. Gose, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Cespedes, LF
6. Avila, C
7. Casetellanos, 3B
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Davis, RF

The Royals sure did assert themselves early and often last night, as the back two of the Tigers rotation has now taken successive beatings for the first time all season. Key words there being first time. There is a reason why Greene and Simon are at the back of our rotation, so games like yesterday will happen from time to time.

I’m curious to see how the Tigers respond tonight after being pounded in the first big hype game of the year.

The Lobster gets the start tonight against fill-in Chris Young. Young has been a starter most of his career, but this will be his first start of the season for the Royals.

Baseball Reference game preview here.

1. Gose, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Cespedes, LF
7. Avila, C
8. Castellanos, 3B
9. Igleseias, SS (he happens to lead the team in BA, by the way)