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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. Moya, RF
8. Saltalamacchia, C
9. Iglesias, SS

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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. McCann, C
8. Aviles, RF
9. Iglesias, SS

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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. Aviles, RF
8. McCann, C
9. Iglesias, 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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Cabrera, DH
4. Castellanos, 3B
5. Upton, LF
6. Moya, RF
7. McCann, C
8. Saltalamacchia, 1B
9. Romine, CF

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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. Aviles, RF
8. McCann, C
9. Iglesias, SS

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:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. Moya, RF
8. McCann, C
9. Iglesias, SS

Predicting a good day for Victor.

The Tigers held on last night, and now we have a rubber-game rematch between Sale and Pelfrey to decide the series. The last time the two faced Pelfrey won his first game as a Tiger, and Cameron Maybin and the Martinezes did the damage at the plate. I wonder what kind of odds you could get on Pelfrey beating Sale back-to-back?

I’m with those wondering why we are still carrying an extra pitcher and a short bench, with a few guys banged up. Aviles is back in the lineup again, sore wrist and all.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Castellanos, 3B
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Upton, DH
7. McCann, C
8. Aviles, LF
9. Iglesias, SS

Victor is out again, which really hurts—Victor is one of the few guys that has consistently had Sales number, which makes me think his “knee issues” might be more serious than we are being led to believe.

They say there is no such thing as a bad win; but there certainly are bad losses, and last night was one of them. It didn’t feel so much like the White Sox won, it felt more like the Tigers lost.

We can still take the series, and we can find out if there is something wrong with Jordan Zimmermann, or if his last outing was just one of those things.

Tonight’s Never Before Seen Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Castellanos, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Upton, LF
7. McCann, C
8. Aviles, 3B
9. Romine, CF

Well,  the Tigers are certainly a faster team without Victor Martinez in the lineup. So there’s that. Hopefully Aviles will avail the effort tonight, and Romine will be crisp. Aviles is no Don Kelly though.

The Tigers took the first series on their road trip behind yet another scoreless outing by Michael Fulmer, and behind yet another Ian Kinsler Day. Kinsler has now not only established himself as the most valuable Tiger so far this season, but should be in the picture for early season league MVP predictions (whether he actually is or not, is another story). Kinsler easily leads the Tigers with a 3.3 WAR, and as far as the league goes, is tied for 4th best:

2016 AL League Leaders WAR

3.5  Xander Bogaerts

3.4  Jose Altuve

3.4  Mike Trout

3.3  Ian Kinsler

3.3  Manny Machado

3.3  Robinson Cano

It’s still early in the season, but that’s some pretty good company.

Michael Fulmer himself has vaulted into 2nd best on the Tigers as far as WAR goes (1.9), with 28.1 scoreless innings, a 7-1 record, and a 2.52 ERA. He has been quite a revelation; consider that a year ago today, he was pitching AA ball for the Mets. When asked to put Fulmer’s performance in perspective, Ian Kinsler said “I don’t think you can. What’s the point in putting it in perspective?”

Tonight the Tigers stop in Chicago for 3, after sweeping the White Sox in 3 back in Detroit a week ago. James Shields takes the mound for the bad guys. Shields got bombed for 10 runs in less than 3 innings in his last appearance for the Padres, and promptly did the same after being picked up by the White Sox, giving up 7 runs in two innings, and giving a new meaning to his moniker Big Game James.

Today’s Boyd in the Hand Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Castellanos, 3B
5. JD Martinez, DH
6. Upton,  LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Aviles, RF
9. Iglesias, SS

Victor gets a rare day off (he has never hit Shields well), the other Martinez takes his place, and Aviles (or “Availed” if you are spellcheck) gets the start in right.

More good pitching last night, and some Kinsler heroics, and now Zimmerman takes the mound with a wacky lineup behind him looking to get the Tigers back to back sweeps.

Today’s Hey Why Not Lineup

Kinsler, 2B
Aviles, LF
Cabrera, DH
Castellanos, 3B
JD Martinez, RF
Upton, CF
McCann, C
Romine, 1B
Iglesias, SS

For those wondering, Maybin is day to day with wrist soreness.

Everybody is raving about Michael Fulmer, and with good cause: Fulmer has now had three consecutive scoreless outings of 6 or more innings, and would have had three of 7 or more innings if he wasn’t wisely pulled early in a lopsided game. One more scoreless inning would have put him in the company of Clayton Kershaw and Pedro Martinez as the only rookies to pull that off. A few more outings like this, and ROY whispers will be heard.

The Fulmer/Cespedes trade is now looking like one of Dave Dombrowski’s better ones, and a fine parting gift. Tonight the fruit of another midseason trade, Matt Boyd, goes against his former Blue Jays.

Today’s Boyd in the Hand Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Romine, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. JF Martinez, RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. Upton, LF
8. Saltalamacchia, C
9. Iglesias, SS

Romine will try to stay crisp in the 2nd spot of the lineup as he gives Maybin a day off.