Maybe the road trip was as difficult on the guys as some say. Maybe they will play just the same at home, after a day off. We’ll see.

No better way to start a homestead than with Mr. Fulmer on the mound. He is the Face of WAR.

Today’s No Place Like Home Lineup:

1. Dixon Machado, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Justin Upton, LF
7. John Hicks, C
8. Mikie Mahtook CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs Derek Holland

Mikie “I’m Still on the Team Somehow” Mahtook gets his turn in center. Nick into the 2nd spot to get him going. I don’t know, maybe Hicks will run into one.

Miguel Cabrera definitely appears at the top of the Faces of LOB page. He has left 53 on base, which is very un-Miggy like. Surprisingly though, he doesn’t even lead the Tigers. Your 2017 Detroit Tigers LOB Leader: Nick Castellanos with 70, which puts him in the top 25 in MLB. And then there is his glove.

(The Mets are a step above when it comes to LOB though: They have Jay Bruce with 73 and Curtis Granderson with 73 and Neil Walker with 62).

If we go to Faces of WAR, our backup catcher, who has hit a vicious slump (or has regressed to his proper place) is still 4th best on the team. Three of the top 10 most valuable players on the team are relief pitchers. Oh, and a minor league guy who played in Korea last year and has been on the DL for weeks is still in the top 10. This is not good.

But we do have a few guys with great baseball cards, so there is that.

Today’s Dry, Cracking Leather Lineup:

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

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Ian Kennedy

We have the Lettuce and Parsley combo tonight, but the Royals have a guy named Cheslor Cuthbert, which gives them a decided name advantage.

The Tigers won, so I’m not going to fret tonight about all of the problems with this team, or that we may only have a month more of our best hitter.

No, I am going to relax, pop open a Stroh’s, and enjoy the soft Corinthian leather of my La-Z-Boy.

If I get bored, I will listen to these post-game comments by our leader.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Dixon Machado, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Justin Upton, LF
7. John Hicks, C
8. JaCoby Jones, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Eric Skoglund

The Ol’ Ace takes on Cy Rookie Guy. No Elvis in CF tonight, but we have Dixon “Wait, I’m Batting Where?” Machado leading things off. I predict 3 walks for JD, but J-Hicks will knock him in at least once.

The Tigers played that last series like the proverbial subdivision by the side of the road. Even Alex Avila on Saturday was a three story Victorian by the side of the road, striking out three consecutive times on called third strikes. There should be a special hat for that.

Today’s Lineup:
Andrew Romine, 2B
Alex Avila, C
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
JD Martinez, RF
Justin Upton, LF
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Alex Presley, CF
Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Jason Hammel

It looks like Alex Presley will be getting some starts in center now, because, why not?

Today’s Lineup:

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

It’s too bad they both weren’t rained out last night—except for the Avila blast. He continues to stay hot.

Collins would look good in a sombrero. He was only a pitch or two away last night. Keep trying, Fingers! Better grab one while you can, because JaCoby Jones was called back up from Toledo (Chad Bell was sent down).

In worse news, Ian Kinsler and his old man hamstring were placed on the 10-day DL.

Also, pitcher Arcenio Leon was added to the roster, and William Cuevas got the DFA to make room for him.

Today’s Game 1 Lineup:

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

Pitching: Mike Fulmer vs Tyler Danish

2nd game: Buck Farmer vs Derek Holland

Jose did not look good in the leadoff spot, and gets bumped back to 9th, where he has been doing well lately.

The pitchers are swapped around a bit, so we don’t get the anticipated Danish-Farmer matchup. I always wondered where those things grew.

***Update: the first game has been postponed, and now will be part of a Saturday doubleheader.***

It’s a rare good old-fashioned double-header. Let’s play two!

Last night’s game was a little frustrating, and a little unlucky. Both Miggy and Victor hit line drive rockets right at a glove, and got runners doubled off (Fingers maybe shouldn’t have been, or maybe he was trying to steal 3rd?), and JD Martinez missed a 2-run homer by no more than 2 inches.

Today we play two, and get a lucky draw in the first game, our old “friend” Mr. Pelfrey. Hopefully in the 2nd game we can eat up Danish.

McCann needed 5 stitches and is on the 10-day DL. Hopefully Hicks picks up where he left off.

Today’s Game 1 Lineup:

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

Pitching: Buck Farmer vs Mike Pelfrey

2nd game: Matthew Boyd vs Tyler Danish.

Brad plays it a little different, giving Miggy and Ian the first game off instead of the 2nd. I’m guessing we’ll have no JD in the 2nd.

Encouraging game last night, as Norris pitched well (he really deserved a W for that one, although it went to Greene, who pitched very well).

Tonight the Tigers have a chance to save the split, which, on the road against the best team in the league, is like a win. If they don’t, it is probably because I didn’t post the lucky 10-man lineup.

Buck Farmer just called up and announced as the starter for Game 1 in Chicago tomorrow.

Today’s  Lineup:

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

Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Mike Fiers

Nick gets another day off, and Dixon takes a turn at third. No Alex today, but then he did get whacked on the back of the glove hand last night.

That was actually one of Zimmermann’s better outings last night, but the Tigers had to contend with antics in the field and flailing at the plate. Justin Upton had a particularly rough night. He has been getting a steady diet of off-speed pitches low and away, and can’t seem to either hit them or refrain from swinging at them.

Brad Ausmus isn’t worried: “You ask people around baseball if the Detroit Tigers are going to hit. It will be a unanimous yes. We are going to hit.” Well alrighty then.

Today’s  Lineup:

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

Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Charlie Morton

Van Man better be sharp, the way the Tigers have been hitting in Houston.

Nick gets a day off after clowning it up at 3rd last night.

I don’t have too much to say about last night’s game, other than it was a pitching duel, as expected. Fulmer is good.

Jordan Zimmermann? Hmm. Bleacher Report thinks he might be one of the worst free agent pitcher signings ever.

The best thing possible for the Tigers would be for JZ to roll off 4 or 5 great starts in a row, and then find a pitching-starved team like the Mets to take him.

Papa Avila had a radio interview today. If you read between the lines, it seems doubtful that JD Martinez will be around next year. Unless they can unload a Zimmermann on somebody. The Tigers are well over they salary tax limit (they’d have to cut about 20 million), which means as 3rd time offenders they pay a 50% tax. So JD is currently at $11,750,00. If they pay him $21 million next year, assuming they don’t cut another $30 million from their payroll, he will cost them over $30 million with the penalties.

I don’t think there is any way that happens, unless they dump a Cabrera/Martinez/Verlander/Zimmermann salary somehow. The only question is do they try to trade him, or keep him this year then let him walk.

In other news (check out Storman Norman’s link), Anthony Gose had his first appearance as a pitcher and apparently was winging it at 99. There aren’t too many lefties out there who can do that. If you listen to the interview with Al Avila linked above, it was legit (they had their own guns on him). Interesting.

Today’s What, No Alex? Lineup:

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

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Lance McCullers Jr.

Today’s pitching matchup contains the most pitching matchup names letters of the season. You’re welcome, I thought you’d like to know that.

Well, we’ve played over 40 games now, so it’s the point of the season, according to Sparky, where we can tell what a team is made of.

Do you know what ill really tell you what the Tigers are made of? How they do on this brutal road trip. it’s only a mid-coast trip, not a West Coast trip, but the schedule is a bit rough: four games against the best team in the league (with no travel day off), then seven games in six days against division opponents. So yes, that’s 11 games in 10 days with no travel day off.

I’m guessing on Friday’s double-header we will see either Buck Farme or Chad Bell start a game. I’m comfortable with Buck, but Chad is more intriguing, and I’m hoping they go that route.

Justin Upton gets a day off today, which is just as well, since he has whiffed at 214 consecutive offspead pitches down and away. For some reason, everyone is throwing him those now, which doesn’t seem very sporting.

Also Jose Iglesias gets a day off, just because.

Anibal Sanchez has accepted an assignment to Toledo, which he didn’t have to do. You have to give Anibal credit for that one—if he refused it the team may have cut him and Anibal could cash his checks while fishing in the Caribbean. He’d rather fix what’s wrong. Warwick Saupold had to yank the shrimps off his barbie and high-tail it to Houston to join the team.

Today’s Roadie Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Avila, C
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. Mikie Mahtook, LF
9. Dixon Machado, SS

Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs Brad Peacock.

The Peacock has showy numbers this season: 1.20 ERA with 0.89 WHIP. MF is no slouch himself. It should be a classic pitcher’s duel. Therefore I predict the Tigers will win 13-10.

The Tigers are in the limelight tonight on ESPN. Old Man Hamstring and all, Ian Kinsler can’t resist that, and neither should you.

Miggy came back with a vengeance last night. Alex Avila apparently sold his soul to the baseball devil. Andrew Romine is in the lineup because..well, because he’s going to go all Caesar Salad on Yu Darvish.

JD Martinez hit one home run yesterday.

Today’s Boyd in the Hood Lineup:

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

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Yu Darvish

Where is Hicks? Just saying.