Series Preview: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians 5/6-5/8

The Detroit Tigers will play a three-game series, against the Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers are coming off being swept by the Yankees while the Guardians are coming off a series win over the Angels.

Detroit Tigers (18-16) vs. Cleveland Guardians (22-12)

Game 1:

Date: Monday, May 6
Time: 6:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Game 2:

Date: Tuesday, May 7
Time: 6:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Game 3:

Date: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 1:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Triston McKenzie (2-2, 4.34 ERA)

Flaherty gets the series started, he is still looking for his first win in a Tigers jersey, he is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA, a 2.83 FIP, a 1.02 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 36 innings. In his last start, he faced his former team the Cardinals going 6.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on two hits; he walked one and struck out a career-high 14. In his career against Cleveland, he is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 16 innings. McKenzie goes for Cleveland,  he is 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA, a 5.14 FIP, a 1.48 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 29 innings. In his last start, he faced the Astros going seven innings giving up two runs on five hits; he walked one and struck out six. In his career against Detroit, he is 3-2 with a 1.05 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 43 innings.

Game 2: Kenta Maeda (1-1, 5.02 ERA) vs. Logan Allen (3-2, 5.11 ERA)

Maeda goes for Detroit, he is 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA, a 6.07 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 28.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Cardinals going six innings giving up one run on four hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out five. In his career against the Guardians, he is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. Allen gets the ball for the Guardians, he is 3-2 with a 5.11 ERA, a 4.99 FIP, a 1.40 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched. In his last start, he faced the Astros, going 5.2 innings giving up three runs, two of which were earned on seven hits; he walked one and struck out five. In his career against the Tigers he is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.57 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Game 3: Reese Olson (0-4, 2.70 ERA) vs. Tanner Bibee (2-1, 4.46 ERA)

Olson gets the finale for Detroit, he is making his seventh start, he is 0-4 with a 2.70 ERA, a 2.73 FIP, a 1.23 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. In his last start he faced the Yankees, going five shutout innings, he allowed two hits, walked two and struck out five. He has never faced the Guardians in his career. Bibee gets the ball to wrap things up for Cleveland, he is 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA, a 4.30 FIP, a 1.37 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. In his last start he faced the Angels going five innings giving up six runs on eight hits; he walked one and struck out four. In his career is 0-2 in two starts against the Tigers with a 7.27 ERA, a 1.96 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings.

Tigers vs. Guardians Leaders

Tigers:

AVG – Riley Greene – .269
HR – Riley Greene – 8
RBI – Mark Canha – 16
IP – Tarik Skubal – 42.2
ERA – Tarik Skubal – 1.90
K – Tarik Skubal – 53

Guardians:

AVG – Steven Kwan – .353
HR – Josh Naylor – 8
RBI – Jose Ramirez – 27
IP – Logan Allen – 37.0
ERA – Tanner Bibee – 4.46
K – Tanner Bibee – 39

Tigers vs. Guardians Numbers

Tigers

AVG: .224 (25)
OPS: .656 (25)
R: 133 (22)
HR: 29 (24)
ERA: 3.24 (4)
K: 303 (11)
WHIP: 1.12 (4)

Guardians

AVG: .242 (13)                       
OPS: .709 (13)
R: 168 (6)
HR: 35 (13)
ERA: 3.41 (9)
K: 321 (3)
WHIP: 1.21 (10)

Wrap Up

The Detroit Tigers will look to turn things around following being swept by the Yankees. They’ve now fallen to fourth in the division with the recent success of the Twins, now they got the American League Central leading Cleveland Guardians, they need to pick up a series win or else in they could fall into a deep hole entering the second weekend of May.