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Cabrera came off the DL swinging, and now the Tigers are 4-1 on the season against Cleveland.
Today’s Lineup:
Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Carlos Carrasco
Look at that, the Tigers just used the same lineup on back-to-back days.
The big news is that Miguel Cabrera is back. John Hicks did a ridiculously good job filling in:
27 PA .423 BA / 1.098 OPS (both obviously better than Cabrera’s average numbers). The Tigers got lucky with that one.
Perhaps lost in the run barrage Monday: Victor Martinez bunted for a base hit, which was a career first for him. I love the mlb.com picture of it. The only people you can see are Victor and the 3rd base umpire. I think there was an outfielder blocked by the view, but that is a whole lot of open turf there. Even Victor could jog to first on that one.
If there is any cause for optimism this season–and Smoking Loon, at least, has picked the Tigers for the World Series–it’s that they are already 3-1 against the Indians. The Tigers started last season 0-11 against the Tribe, and didn’t win their 3rd game against them until September 27. And I like the matchup tonight.
Today’s Lineup:
Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Corey Kluber
Jim Adduci still out there flying the Mudhen flag at .333 / .926
The win yesterday was sorely needed.
The Tigers have called up Chad Bell, who is a long reliever, and a lefty. Joe Jimenez was sent back down in the swap for Long Lefty. I don’t know, he seems to have dynamite stuff in the minors, and gets lit up on the big team. Is it just his youth, or is he on the wrong side of the fine line? That will be one of the interesting questions of this season.
The Tribe seem to be kicking it into gear. I guess that’s a motorcycle metaphor? And which tribe are they anyway? Erie, I would imagine? They are quite vague on that issue.
Miggy is due back tomorrow. It will take him a while to get to where he can replace the production of Avila/Hicks. Production from the first base position has actually improved while he was out. Enough can’t be said about the job Avila, Hicks, and Adduci have done filling in for the DL guys.
Today’s Lineup:
Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Trevor Bauer
Brantley is back, which can’t be a good thing.
Trivia question: When is the last time the Tigers have had the same lineup two consecutive days?
The Tigers are in one of those funks where they seem to find a new way to lose every day. Yesterday was Justin Wilson’s turn. Previously he was close to perfect, you knew he’d give up a couple eventually.
I look forward to getting on one of those rolls where you seem to win in lucky ways every daly instead. We might have to wait until Miggy and JD are back for that though.
I think we all pretty much agreed before the season that the Tigers are a .500-ish team, but with Miggy and JD both out of the lineup even that seems like a reach.
Today’s Let’s Stop The Bleeding Lineup:
Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Miguel Gonzalez
JZ was not very good his last time out.
Nick brought his cast iron glove with him to the park yesterday, and kicked away two consecutive double play grounders, for three errors total (he should have had 4, on a ball that was somehow ruled a single). After the game Omar Vizquel consoled him: the great Vizquel himself had a game with 3 errors in which he cost the Indians 7 unearned runs. Yikes. Bad days happen (although it would be nice if Nick could be a little more Vizquel-like on his good days).
Alex Wilson took the loss, unfairly, after giving up only the 2 unearned runs and working his way out of the situation. Jimenez gave up another bomb and isn’t impressing anyone yet.
Today’s Lettucey Lineup:
Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs Derek Holland
The bullpen is still good whenever Justin Wilson is on the mound, bad the rest of the time. The offense apparently wore itself out scoring 19 in the first game, and couldn’t hit anything Wednesday or yesterday, except for Crash Collins, who smoked a couple doubles, and smoked Adduci while he was fielding a fly ball.
Today’s C’mon Guys, It’s Just Pelfrey Lineup:
Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Mike Pelfrey
Jose Iglesias is back from the concussion DL, Blaine “Ball Four” Hardy sent back down. The Tigers send out their ace to the deciding game of the Blowpen Bowl. Then again, Seattle started with their ace, and we see how that worked out for them.
Unless the rain says otherwise. As of 12:30 there is a tarp on the field.
Today’s Blowpen Rubber Game Lineup:
Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Hisashi Iwakumi
The Tigers took round one in the Blowpen Bowl, as the two teams combined to throw an astounding 240 bullpen pitches. The Tigers came out on top by 10, but somehow had to use 5 relief pitchers in doing it.
Poor Dixon Machado was 0-for-1 with a walk; everybody else in the lineup, pinch-hitters and late-inning replacements included, had at least one hit, and 7 players had multiple hits. How is this for the bottom of the order: Jim Adduci, 3-for-6 with a double and triple; James McCann, 2-for-5 with a home run and 4 RBI, and Andrew Romine, 3-for-6 with an RBI. Of course that might mean they get shut out the rest of the series, but it was fun to watch. The hitting part, that is.
Today’s Let’s Get to That Bullpen Lineup:
Pitching: Daniel Norris vs James Paxton
Well the Toledo Tigers really came through. It’s great to see a guy like Jim Adduci come through; 31 years old and only 136 career MLB at bats and two years playing in Korea, he made his Tiger debut a memorable one. Remember “can’t miss” prospect Steven Moya? He’s only hitting .122 in Toledo and got passed over for Adduci. There is a nice piece on Adduci here.
JaCoby Jones, Jose Iglesias, JD Martinez, Miguel Cabrera. That’s a lot of DL talent. If these guys can even scrap their way to playing .500 ball until guys start coming back, it would be a win.
Today’s Adduci Edition Lineup:
Pitching: Jordan Zimmerman vs Felix Hernandez
That was a great win, all things considered.
As if a 4-day losing streak (most of which were lost in frustrating fashion) weren’t bad enough, the Tigers have just put Miguel Cabrera on the 10-day DL with groin issues, and brought up John Hicks.
Today’s Not Exactly Awe Inspiring Lineup:
Pitching: Matt Boyd vs Adalberto Mejia
Jose Iglesias to the 7-day concussion DL (the other Iggy, of the Pop variety, turns 70 today).
Joe Jimenez is back from Toledo, and Justin Upton is back in the lineup.
Today’s Lineup:
Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Hector Santiago
