Game 2016.130: Angels at Tigers

The Tigers lost a very winnable ejection-fest of a game, but still have a change to take the series, with the New Anibal Sanchez on the mound. Hopefully the strike zone won’t be the player of the game for the Angels again.

Today’s Striking Back Lineup:

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

Game 2016.129: Angels at Tigers

The West Coast jinx? Doesn’t apply in the D.

Fulmer is on the mound, the best rookie pitcher ever without a nickname.

Today’s Making the Tribe Sweat Lineup:

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

Game 2016.128: Angels at Tigers

I don’t think it’s the Angels; I think it’s the West Coast. Angels, A’s, Mariners, Interleague games with the Dodgers and Giants, it never works out well. The Tigers have the Angels at home, and with their ace on the mound, and with a series sweep in their luggage. And the Angels are 54-73. And…they just scored in the top of the first. Hmm.

Today’s Making the Tribe Sweat Lineup:

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

Game 2016.127: Tigers at Twins

Nothing like the Twins to get your post-season hopes up. The Indians start a four game set here in Arlington, so they’ll have their hands full. Tigers are 5.5 behind the Indians, and 3 games behind the 2nd Wild Card spot, tied with Seattle. The WC race is crowded (good work MLB), post-season hopes are alive, but not great.

Boyd was solid again yesterday and Miggy was a triple short of the cycle. Pull out your brooms today.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Tyler Collins, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, RF

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Casey McGehee, 3B

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

Game 2016.124: Red Sox at Tigers

The Tigers still have yet to stop the plague called Ortiz; I guess they never will. I feel for Justin Upton, who can’t buy a break. He scorched one to the 420 mark in dead center, and it went 419 feet and 9 inches. But who here would have put money on the Tigers pulling it out in extras even if he did tie it, raise your hands. Anyone? Bueller?

This sporadic solo home run offense isn’t exactly working, is it?

Maybe the return of Maybin can bring a spark; yes, he’s back! Of course he returns to a Sunday lineup with no V-Mart and a salty first baseman, but maybe he can get something going.

Today’s Game of Inches Lineup:

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

Game 2016.123: Red Sox at Tigers

It was inevitable that Fulmer would eventually have a bad outing. Not that anyone else was particularly good either. The Tigers are on the verge of dropping out of the playoff race.

But there is good news. There is? Yes there is. There is a new Stroh’s beer being brewed in Detroit. A bunch of that might help while watching the rest of this series. That and a nice big umbrella.

Today’s Van Norrison Lineup:

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

Look who’s back, a new man no doubt. McCann has passed up Salty in the catcher’s batting race, by just sitting and watching.

Game 2016.122: Red Sox at Tigers

Well, how about that, Matt Boyd pitched another good one, and the Tigers improbably came back after falling behind 3-1 in the 8th. What kind of odds could we have gotten for betting on that comeback? And with a go-ahead bases-loaded walk at that, after Brad Ausmus oddly pulled both Cabrera and Martinez for pinch-runners. Extra innings would have looked a bit anemic, wouldn’t it have?

Boyd is now 4-0 since the All-Star break, with a 2.10 ERA and a nice 1.019 WHIP. He and tonight’s pitcher, Michael Fulmer, give a lot of hope for the future of the rotation.

The past of the rotation takes the mound for Boston, as Kid Rick Porcello brings a flashy 16-3, 3.30 back to Comerica.

Today’s Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Aybar, SS
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Collins, LF
  7. McGehee, 3B
  8. Saltalamacchia, C
  9. Romine, CF

Another day for Upton as a late-inning pinch-runner.