Will Cle ever lose again?
Weekend set v. the Rays starts tonight. TB is not good. 3/4 would be nice. 2/4 at a minimum. This kicks off a pre-All Star break 11 game road-trip, highlighted by 3 in Cle.
Baseball-Reference game preview here.
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Cameron Maybin, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Justin Upton, LF
7. Steven Moya, RF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Last night was starting to look like more of the same, then all of a sudden the Tigers, who had been making Conley look like Koufax the first few innings, had their own private Home Run Derby, inaugurated by Jose Iglesias.
Now the Tigers have a chance to sweep this two game series, and the four-game season series. For all the Tiger woes this season they are 39-29EC (except Cleveland). Maybe it’s just a Cleveland thing, and they aren’t so bad otherwise.
Today’s Lineup:
There’s an old saying, that the good thing about baseball is that there is always another game the next day. Unfortunately, yesterday was the exception, and so there was a whole day with nothing to do but stew over yet another humiliating sweep at the hands of the Indians. I suppose it gave the team a day to recover and reboot, so maybe that will help.
Of course maybe the best way to start over again isn’t to lead off with Mike “I’ll Get Them Out Eventually” Pelfrey. For what it’s worth though, Pelfrey says that his one stint in the bullpen was very valuable for him, and that he got his splitter working. And for what it’s worth, his relief appearance was better than his starts, and almost as long as most of them: 4 1/3 scoreless innings with three hits.
The Tigers just have two with the Marlins. They started the 2016 season with a 2-game sweep of Florida.
Today’s Bats in the Pelfrey Lineup:
Thank you to coleman for filling in on short notice yesterday. Checked with Dr. Andrews, MRI was negative. Back at it today.
In all honesty, getting swept at home in late June isn’t going to really affect our chances of competing in a mediocre division. But there are two things at play today which are much more serious.
1) If Ausmus intended to stir up his team through his comments about “getting angry” to the media, or in the clubhouse, it certainly didn’t work. There’s not a person reading this who isn’t surprised. But it brings Ausmus’ (in)ability as a leader to the forefront once again. This team has rolled over the last two nights, and just about every game of the 8 so far vs. Cleveland. The team is good enough to win a few on its own; I stand by that the team is competing in spite of Ausmus. A Avila and Mr. I and their consiglieres certainly know more about baseball than I do. I would love to figure out what I’m missing regarding Ausmus. It’s something. Perhaps there is a manager arc…imagine a baseball reference closest comps for managers – and he’s on the Tom Kelly/Tony LaRussa/Joe Torre arc, but with an Ivy League education. Let’s hope.
2) If Verlander wants to show that he’s an ace again (I read one Detroit columnist who said that JV could be in Cy Young conversations…tap the brakes on that) he needs to put an end to the losing streak, right now.
As far as Sanchez goes…I have no idea what to do with him. I’m sure he’ll get another start. It’s an ironic consequence of high paying contracts. He’s too expensive to bench or send down. So we’ll just continue to get kicked in the nuts every 5 days b/c he had a great year a few years ago and DD overpaid him.
Don’t get too down. It’s an average team in an average division. It could still be a fun summer.
Moya day to day with a sore knee. Numbers below off of Josh Tomlin.
Kevin was the scheduled blogger today, but experienced some elbow soreness warming up for today’s post, so I was moved up from my normal spot in the rotation on short rest.
Cleveland continued to own Detroit, and have pushed their season record to 7-0. Number 8 will be a challenge to avoid with 5-inning Anibal and a taxed bullpen facing the surging Racially Insensitives.
Today’s Lineup:
The angry(?) Tigers, winners of 4 in a row, are set to host the first place, and streaking (as in winning streak, not JR Smith streaking) Indians, winners of 6 in a row. The Tigers have yet to win against Cleveland this year. That’s going to change soon
Fangraphs ran a very interesting post on Cabrera today, apparently he has the worst vsR/vsL splits in the majors; and the effect is reversed. That’s right, he’s crushing righties, and getting dogged by lefties. He’s also way off his career average on change-ups. The article points to age, but I see a splendid opportunity to progress towards the mean. He won’t be this good against righties all year, but he’ll be much better against lefties. Here’s something that should make you salivate…his BABIP v. lefties this year is .192. It’s likely to be around .300 by the end of the season.
Baseball-Reference game preview here.
1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez, V, DH
5. Upton, LF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. Moya, RF
8. McCann, C
9. Romine, SS
Daniel Norris has motored his van to town and joins the starting rotation, backed by a lineup Brad might have made out after a long night of celebrating the Tigers 3rd win. Not sure how Aviles got left out of this one.
Fulmer started out well last night, then just sort of lost it. After the game he mentioned feeling lightheaded and short of breath, which has been a common reaction here when the bullpen enters a game, but the Tiger bullpen was stellar last night, and Moya pounded the ball. That’s how you put together a winning streak, when different parts of the team take turns contributing.
Next up are the pesky Indians.
Today’s We Already Won the First Three So What the Heck Lineup:
The suddenly-hitting Iglesias, takes the 2nd spot (he has hit .299 over the last 30 days), Victor and Maybin get a rest, Miggy gets a semi-rest, although he never seems the same guy at DH (.268 lifetime), 1B will be a little salty, and the Lettuce will be Romine the expanses of center field.
Last night the Tigers got their 2nd good win in a row. Maybe this could become a thing.
Tonight Michael Fulmer gets the rare treat of facing 8 left-handed batters. That Seattle can do this is as good a reason as any to bring up Daniel Norris to fill in for Boyd tomorrow. Fulmer himself will get a start off, as Anibal Sanchez gets another go at the starting rotation next time Fulmer’s spot comes around, as the Tigers try to limit the wear on what may be a golden arm.
Tonight’s Lineup:
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Cameron Maybin, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Justin Upton, LF
7. Steven Moya, RF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Everyday Aviles finally gets a rest.
Mike Pelfrey certainly didn’t win any new fans last night, but the Tigers pulled out the kind of game they usually use in dramatic fashion, with Justin Upton hitting his 2nd home run of the game, of the walk off variety. With JD Martinez likely out until August, the Tigers really need Upton to contribute, and he has now homered in 3 straight games and has a 10 game hitting streak.
The Tigers and Mariners traded leads 7 times in the game, in what was a bit of a home run derby. Until Upton’s game winner the big shot of the game was by Miguel Cabrera, who hit one out toward the Kaline statue, off the concourse, and into the street, estimated at 454 feet, which would be the longest ball hit at Comerica. The win actually went to Anibal Sanchez, although maybe the bullpen should have gotten a group W for that; other than the two Wilsons the bullpen put together 7 pretty good innings.
Tonight sees the reliable Justin Verlander take on James Paxton, who was called up to start in place of Felix Hernandez. In Place of Felix Hernandez is my favorite Mariner pitcher.
Today’s Lineup:
Why is it that every time it’s my turn to do one of these, it seems like Mike Pelfrey is pitching? How did Kevin work that out? I sense a diabolical plot.
Actually, Pelfrey has had three decent outings in a row. The Tigers are beginning a 9-game home stand.
The Tigers try yet another stab at shoring up their bullpen with a call-up of Dustin Molleken; Casey McGehee’s stay was all of one day. The Canadian Molleken (not to be confused with Molson) has been puttering around the minors for 13 seasons. If you can’t get called up by the Tigers with their bullpen now, then when? Let’s hope he makes the most of his shot.
Today’s Home Sweet Home Lineup:
Predicting a good day for Victor.
A series that started off so promising is dangerously close to being a 3-1 convincing KC series win if Zimmermann doesn’t deliver today. These last two games haven’t been close.
I checked the standings. Last night’s bullpen massacre only counts as one loss. I could have sworn it would be two, but thankfully, it’s just one.
Matt Boyd on the hill tonight.
Baseball-Reference game preview here.
