Tonight the Yankees come into town for the rubber game of a one-game series, weather permitting (light rain is forecast). Actually it is a make-up game that was rained out April 10, but it really is the rubber game of the series; the Tigers won the first game of the series behind Jordan Zimmerman, then Pelfrey got bombed in the 2nd to even it out. But that was so long ago that it seemed like a good idea to have Justin Upton bat 2nd.
Matt Boyd makes his 2nd start of the season, after making a decent showing in Oakland (6 hits, 3 runs, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts), before the bullpen spoiled the day. No such bad luck last night, as Michael Fulmer was just brilliant drawing a Roy Oswald comparison from his manager. His last 3 starts Fulmer is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA, and has a 16-inning scoreless streak going. He may turn out to be a good one, and all for the price of 1/2 a season of Yoenis Cespedes.
The last time the Tigers won in Anaheim? Max Scherzer got the win, and Joe Nathan picked up the save.
Tonight’s Yankee starter, Michael Pineda, has been having a rough time of it, with an 8.85 ERA over his last 4 starts, giving up 30 hits over his last 20 innings.
The game will be starting fashionably late, at 7:40.
Today’s Hit Pineda Like a Piñata Lineup:
- Maybin, CF
- JD Martinez, RF
- Cabrera, 1B
- V Martinez, DH
- Castellanos, 3B
- Upton, LF
- Saltalamacchia, C
- Aviles, 2B
- Iglesias, SS
This was originally scheduled to be an off day after the long flight back from California, so it’s not surprising a regular or two would have the day off. Still, this lineup misses a lot without Kinsler.
Great write up Coleman! BTW, Little Ricky Porcello goes to the mound tonight for win number 8! Meanwhile, what little we have seen of Pineda give Tiger fits.
On this date in 2010, Armando Galarraga was one out (or one bad call) away from a perfect game
Pineda is really struggling. Usually thogh when you get to pitch against the Tiger lineup, you suddenly find yourself!…lets hope Boyd is another piece of the puzzle towards respectable starting pitching..
I’m happy they rested Ian tonight and it gives Maybin a chance to bat 1st. Not sure why, does anybody think Ian’s hitting has been a problem? The problem has been the #2 spot and JD has only been marginally better than J-UP. I still contend #2 spot is cursed.
Here’s a lineup I’d try for at least 3 games: Ian, Maybin, Miggy, Victor, Casty, JD, J-Up, McCann and Iggy.
I like your thinking!
+1
The Tigers are maybe the only team in baseball that wouldn’t have gotten a run out of that first inning sequence.
Twinkies?
The slowest team in MLB…oh they have fast guys , but you would never know it…between poor base running and never running hard, unless you absolutely, absolutely have to they are beyond slow…..
On the other hand, I wouldn’t want Pineda in a fantasy baseball league right now. They will have other chances. And Boyd looks good.
5 straight Tigers take the fastball first pitch right down the middle..then flail away at his slider….for mises or weak Groundball. Must be cybormetrics…..
Boyd is boring me to death with all the ground balls. Isn’t it wonderful?
Mr Boyd stretches his arm under Galarraga’s shadow!
Stop being poetic here, we have a reputation to uphold!
Actually, in honor of Galarraga, I foresee him losing it…in the 10th inning of a 0-0 game.
On a blown ump’s call!
See even the fast guys are slow!…now Brad will be too scared to try that for the rest if June!…maybe he should be!
We did in bottom of 1st inning.
Pineda is not pitching any better than he has to get that 7 era..but the difference is the Pussycats swing swing swing at anything!….you can thow that Strikeout pitch to JD in the dirt outside 100 times and he will swing at it 100 times…Casty has for the most part laid off that pitch and has improved his average by 100 points.
But Not today Casty!
I wonder if pitchers slip their managers a couple hundreds to get to pitch against the Tigers?
When is the last time the Tigers threw 15 straight scoreless innings?
June 2016
Oh, a wise guy, eh?
Couldn’t resist and at my age I wouldn’t remember anyway.
Wait, wouldn’t remember what, what were we talking about again?
Meanwhile it’s shame that our offense has let Boyd down. Oh boy, now we also have to worry about pen chairs, Lowe, Fulmer or the Aussie?
I guess BA couldn’t see that Boyd was gassed last inning after he gave up 3 hits. He had to bring him back out to see if he would give up back to back solid singles or worse first in a tie game the Tigers need to win. This should be interesting …
Sure, that makes sense — let them get them lead first and then make a change, BA. Brilliant.
Gee that one whole run isn’t going to be enough…again…I am shocked!
Parnell welcome to inherited runners score here!….
That should do it. Another situation where J. Wilson might have been a better choice.
Oh gosh followed by the KING of inherited runners who score..King Ryan
Lets see 1-1 in the 6th ..the game now in the hands of our Al Avila supported manager….5-2 in the 7th…why am I not the least bit surprised!
What more can we ask of Ian this year? Shame about the play at home but it was right to send him. Anyone notice that Miggy 3 for 3 didn’t mind taking the walk while Victor and Casty looked like they were intent on big swings. Finally, a better choice in picking who relieved Boyd and we might at worse be tied 3-3.
WOW, Brilliant!
Oh Well.
16 runners…4 runs…same old same old Tigers!..every night!
Amen
I made the mistake of reading the teams post game comments…here I will “sum up” those comments for you…..
” when ifs and buts become candy and nuts everyday will be Christmas!!!!…
Everyone was whinning!