The Rangers are hot, they’ve won 9 in a row. The Tigers are without Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera (Victor will miss the series on paternity leave. OK, there are 4 or 5 months a year where you wouldn’t have to miss games, there are ways to time this stuff you know).

No matter. The Tigers have Mighty Alex Avila to plug into the cleanup spot.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Tyler Collins, RF
3. JD Martinez, DH
4. Alex Avila, 1B
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Nick Martinez

Curious move to put Tyler Crazy Fingers Collins in the field and JD at DH, although I guess it makes things easier on JD’s foot. His injury has left him struggling with only 5 home runs in 6 games. Hopefully with a little rest he can pick things up.

Nick actually has been struggling, and is dropped down to 6th in the lineup.

The Tigers are running all 3 of their catcher’s out there (including the emergency Romine). Managers usually don’t like doing that.

Last night was a good win, dedicated to every fan who has ever said a player was “due,” because if anyone was due, it was Tyler “Fingers” Collins.

Miggy has an oblique strain, and will probably be out the rest of the home stand, but is not expected to end up on the DL.

JZ, we have our eyes on you today, you have been underwhelming us.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. JD Martinez RF
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. Andrew Romine, 1B
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Dylan Bundy

The Tigers had a very exciting game last night. In different circumstances, that JD Martinez grand slam could have ended up on the season-end highlights of the year.

Justin Wilson was and has been awesome, but when he gave up that dinger to Trumbo (who happens to be one of the hottest hitters in MLB at the moment) in a two-inning save attempt…well, certain wheels were set in motion.

Maybe I only thought that because of exhaustion and tequilas. I’m kidding! (I wasn’t really that tired). I do admit I chuckled when Gibson pointed out that the Tigers had an advantage because they had more available arms in their bullpen. Those arms being Frankie and Anibal. Oh, stop!

In a better world, Frankie would gather his dignity together and retire, which the Tigers would love. But correct me if I am wrong, but I think if you retire, you don’t get paid the rest of your contract. I have thrown this out there before with no takers, but…

I agree that a wasted salary is not as bad as a wasted salary AND a wasted roster spot. BUT, because of the new CBA, and Illitch’s contracts, that spot will cost them at minimum a minimum salary PLUS a 30% penalty. I have thrown this out there before (and I will again), but I don’t think our new owners are up to paying the Illitch tax.

Good news for today’s game though: their bullpen is depleted, and Anibal is still fresh!

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. JD Martinez RF
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Alex Avila, 1B
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs Ubaldo Jimenez

Cabrera a last-minute scratch. He got hit on the hand last night, so that isn’t all that surprising.

Tyler Collins is in CF because he is due. Ridiculously due. If he doesn’t get a hit for another week or so, he will be SO due. The most dangerous hitter in baseball.

Also, Jim Adduci seems to have been on the 10-day disabled list for weeks. And Jacoby on the 15-day for months.

The Tigers have two quick 3-game series, before a long road trip, not the friendliest stretch of their schedule.

Today’s WAR What is it Good For? Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. JD Martinez RF
7. Mikie Mahtook, CF
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Wade Miley Cyrus

Mikie Wait I’m Still on the Team Mahtook gets a rare start in center.

After a Jud-inspired JD Martinez performance, the Tigers now have a chance to close out a West Coast trip with a winning record, which doesn’t happen every day.  The only thing better than watching JD go long twice was seeing Justin Wilson blow through the 9th in 1-2-3 fashion. That feels good.

In other news Jordan Zimmermann just isn’t that good. But we knew that.

We are getting near that 40-game mark that Sparky always said was the time to start evaluating your team, and the above realization is starting to stand out.

Today’s Win One For Mom Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. JD Martinez RF
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Dixon Machado, SS

Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Alex Meyer

Not bad for a Sunday Lineup.

J.D. Martinez returned, and squibbed a single. Jose Iglesias made a great play at short. A bunch of other things also happened, none of which were worth staying awake for. Zimmermann wasn’t horrible, but he certainly was not good. The Tigers were probably looking for more than “not horrible” when they gave him that contract.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. JD Martinez RF
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Ricky Nolasco

J.D. Martinez is back! The lineup is now starting to look like the lineup we expected to see this season. Jim Adduci to the DL with an oblique injury.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. JD Martinez RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Matt Shoemaker

The Tigers finally made the big decision, and there’s me without internet access.

It was a decision that seemed somehow both inevitable, but still surprising.  It will be interesting to see what, if anything, they do with Frankie now that he is no longer the closer.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Andrew Romine, CF
2. Tyler Collins, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Nick Castellanos, 3B
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Jim Adduci, RF
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Matthew Boyd, P

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Zack Godley

As JD Martinez begins his rehab assignment ( 2 hits at DH), his fill-in is making a pretty good show of it. Jim Adduci had a clutch bases loaded triple to put the game out of reach, and continues to put up numbers that would be nice even for JD Martinez: so far in 37 plate appearances he is hitting .343 with a .950 OPS. Not bad for a guy who was last seen playing in Korea.

There is a nice story on Jim Adduci here.

Ian Kinsler is day-to-day with hamstring tightness. But don’t worry, The Lettuce has things under control.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Andrew Romine, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. Jim Adduci, RF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Jordan Zimmerman vs Jesse Hahn

Game 28 was supposed to be yesterday, but that one was called swiftly. Could it have been because the Tigers had a West Coast train to catch at night? (The home team gets the call on postponing a game before it starts; once it starts it is the umpires’ call).

Jud is already forecasting disaster for the trip, and past results would seem to support the pessimism.  They do seem to do alright in Oakland though, especially in the playoffs. And the A’s aren’t exactly tearing it up. Triggs looks tricky though—he’s at 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA. Then it’s two at Arizona (who is doing quite well), and three at the Angels, who are anything but Angels against the Tigers.

There are always a lot of Tiger fans at the Oakland games. Sometimes more Tiger fans than Athletic supporters.

Today’s Triggonometry Lineup:

1. Andrew Romine, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Tyler Collins, CF
7. Jim Adduci, RF
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs Andrew Triggs

“Every Day” Ian takes an extended day off as the Tigers dish out The Lettuce as the opening course.

Cabrera came off the DL swinging, and now the Tigers are 4-1 on the season against Cleveland.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Tyler Collins, CF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Jim Adduci, RF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Carlos Carrasco

Look at that, the Tigers just used the same lineup on back-to-back days.