The Detroit Tigers, after dropping the series opener, rebounded with back-to-back wins against the Rangers to take the series. They improved to 40-50 with the two wins. They’re seven games back of the White Sox for the American League Central. They’re five games back for the final spot in the American League wild card standings.
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MLB Game Recap
Saturday
Riley Greene crushed a two-run home run to put Detroit up 2-0 in the first. Ben Malgeri drove home another run in the second on an RBI groundout.
Jack Flaherty returned to his former self, going 5.2 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, no walks, and struck out five. Tyler Holton finished the sixth. Keider Montero went the final three innings, not allowing a run or a hit. He didn’t record a strikeout and walked only one batter.
Sunday
The Rangers opened the scoring with a solo home run. The Tigers answered as Riley Greene, for the second straight game, hit a two-run home run to make it 2-1. In the fifth, it was all Detroit as first-time All-Star Dillon Dingler singled home a run, then Kevin McGonigle, who advanced to third on Dingler’s single, scored on a wild pitch. Greene once again came up with another big hit, this time a two-RBI triple. The Rangers got a run back in the fifth and another in the eighth, but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers won 6-3.
Casey Mize pitched well again as he went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out four, improving to 4-5 this season. Kenley Jansen picked up his tenth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Standout Series Performer
Riley Greene in the series hit .462 with a 1.654 OPS. He had a double, a triple, two home runs, six RBI, and two runs scored; he also walked once and was intentionally walked once.
Key News & Notes
Red Hot Kitties
The Tigers have won five of their last six games. During that stretch, the pitching has stepped up, posting a 3.27 ERA, the fourth best in baseball, last week. They had a 3.93 FIP, good for ninth in baseball. A 0.93 WHIP, which is third in the league.
They’re 18-12 since June 1st, good for the best record in baseball since then. In that stretch, they have the best ERA in the league with a 3.29, a 4.01 FIP, which is eighth, and a 1.13 WHIP, which is third. They also have a .779 OPS, which is eighth in baseball and second in the American League. They have a 115 wRC+, which is also eighth in the league. They’re first in home runs with 54.
All Stars
It’s the first time since 2016 the Tigers aren’t sending a pitcher to the Midsummer Classic. That could change with pitchers pitching before the break or an injury, but as of now, no Detroit pitcher will be in Philadelphia. The Tigers do have three representatives heading to Philadelphia in catcher Dillon Dingler, rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle, and outfielder Riley Greene. Dingler and McGonigle are first-time representatives, while Greene heads to his third straight.
Pitchers Return
Casey Mize, since returning from the injured list, is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched. Jack Flaherty, since returning, is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.74 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Flaherty will likely start Friday against Philadelphia at home, and Mize will go Saturday.
Next Up
Tarik Skubal gets the ball for Detroit on Tuesday. He’s 4-4 with a 3.15 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. He’s coming off his best start since returning from the injured list, going six innings, allowing two runs, one earned on a hit, no walks, and nine strikeouts. Since returning from his surgery, he’s made four starts, going 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
Farm Report
- Toledo Mud Hens (AAA): The Mud Hens ended the weekend going 2-1, dropping Friday’s game 5-4, then winning the next two 7-6 and 6-2.
- Erie SeaWolves (AA): Erie took the final three games against Akron, completing their six-game sweep.
- West Michigan Whitecaps (A+): The Whitecaps dropped the last three games, 10-3, 6-5, and 6-4.
- Lakeland Flying Tigers (A): Lakeland won Friday 7-4, then Saturday 7-5, before losing Sunday 5-3.
- FCL Tigers (ROK): The FCL Tigers split their two games with the FCL Blue Jays winnings 6-2 Friday then losing 10-5 Saturday.
- DSL Tigers 1 (ROK): DSL Tigers 1 beat DSL Nationals 12-5 on Friday, then lost 5-4 on a walk-off to DSL Arizona Red
- DSL Tigers 2 (ROK): DSL Tigers 2 won 9-7 over DSL Rangers Red on Friday, then lost to DSL Rockies on a walk-off 8-7 on Saturday.
