The Detroit Tigers are currently playing the final game of their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The Tigers are in jeopardy of being swept after dropping the first two games by a score of 2-1 in both games. The Tigers wasted a fantastic start by Reese Olson in the opener as he went six shutout innings giving up four hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out eight. In the middle game, Casey Mize gave up two runs in the first inning and then settled down while the bullpen shut the Braves out but the Detroit offense couldn’t put up more than one run which came after Riley Greene hit a triple and Gio Urshela drove him in on a single. Today’s pitching matchup features two of the best pitchers in their respective leagues right now with Tarik Skubal going for the Tigers and he’s being opposed by Reynaldo Lopez who entering play today had the best ERA in all of baseball for starters with a 1.62. Today the Tigers added an arm to a minor league contract as they signed RHP Eli Villalobos.
RHP – Eli Villalobos
The Miami Marlins drafted Villalobos in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of California State University, Long Beach. He made his debut in 2018 playing for the Marlins rookie league team, Low-A Batavia, and High-A Jupiter, he made 16 appearances going 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. In 2019 he pitched only at Low-A Batavia making 14 appearances with seven of those coming as starts going 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. He didn’t pitch in 2020 due to COVID shutting down the minor league season. In 2021 he pitched at Single-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit making 52 appearances going 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. In 2022 he pitched at Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville making 52 appearances going 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts in 78.2 innings. Last season he pitched for Pensacola and Jacksonville as well as Indianapolis in Triple-A for the Pittsburgh Pirates making 45 appearances going 1-2 with a 4.77 ERA, a 1.93 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. This season he made his big league debut with the Marlins making three appearances posting a 2.08 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and three strikeouts in 4.1 innings. He also pitched at Jacksonville making 13 appearances going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.55 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings.
