Series Preview: Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals 5/20-5/22

The Detroit Tigers will play a three-game series, against the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers are coming off a series loss at the hands of the Diamondbacks while the Royals are coming off a series win over the A’s.

Detroit Tigers (23-23) vs. Kansas City Royals (29-19)

Game 1:

Date: Monday, May 20
Time: 7:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Game 2:

Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 7:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Game 3:

Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Reese Olson (0-4, 2.09 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (3-4, 4.71 ERA)

Olson has turned into an ace right before our eyes, he’s just been on the short end of a struggling Tigers offense when he pitches as they average 1.5 runs when he starts and they’ve been shut out in three of his eight starts, he is 0-4 with a 2.09 ERA, a 2.52 FIP, a 0.99 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Marlins going eight shutout innings giving up three runs; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out six. In his career against the Royals, he is 0-1 with that loss coming back in April when he gave up one run on three hits; he walked three and struck out eight. Wacha will oppose him he is 3-4 with a 4.71 ERA, a 3.80 FIP, a 1.36 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mariners going six innings giving up one run on three hits; he walked two and struck out seven. In his career against the Tigers, he is 1-1 with one of those starts coming earlier this season in which he went 5.2 innings giving up four runs on nine hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out three.

Game 2: Casey Mize (1-2, 3.50 ERA) vs. Alec Marsh (3-1, 2.43 ERA)

Mize has looked good through eight starts in his return he is 1-2 with a 3.50 ERA, a 3.60 FIP, a 1.19 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Marlins going six innings giving up two runs on two hits; he walked one and struck out six. In his career against the Royals, he is 2-1, he faced them in their last series going five innings giving up three runs only two earned on six hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out two. Marsh will go for the Royals he is 3-1 in seven starts with a 2.43 ERA, a 3.39 FIP, a 1.05 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 37 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mariners going five innings giving up two runs only one earned on five hits; he walked one and struck out seven. He has never faced the Tigers in his career.

Game 3: Tarik Skubal (6-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Cole Ragans (3-3, 3.70 ERA)

Skubal gets the finale making his tenth start of the season, he is 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.94 FIP, a 0.78 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts in 55 innings. In his last start against the Diamondbacks he went six shutout innings giving up one hit; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out six. In his career against the Royals is 2-7 with a 4.65 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts in 60 innings. Ragans goes for the Royals, he is 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA, a 3.70 ERA, a 2.57 FIP, a 1.19 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 56 innings. In his last start he faced the A’s going seven shutout innings, he gave up two hits; he walked two and struck out seven. In his career against the Tigers, he is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Tigers vs. Royals Leaders

Tigers:

AVG – Kerry Carpenter – .276
HR – Riley Greene – 9
RBI – Kerry Carpenter – 23
IP – Tarik Skubal – 55.0
ERA – Tarik Skubal – 1.80
K – Jack Flaherty – 72

Royals:

AVG – Salvador Perez – .337
HR – Salvador Perez – 8
RBI – Salvador Perez – 37
IP – Seth Lugo – 65.1
ERA – Seth Lugo – 1.79
K – Cole Ragans – 64

Tigers vs. Royals Numbers

Tigers

AVG: .234 (19)
OPS: .675 (20)
R: 189 (21)
HR: 37 (25)
ERA: 3.22 (5)
K: 391 (16)
WHIP: 1.11 (3)

Royals

AVG: .243 (14)                       
OPS: .695 (17)
R: 213 (10)
HR: 44 (16)
ERA: 3.42 (9)
K: 373 (22)
WHIP: 1.24 (11)

Wrap Up

The Tigers got a much-needed series win, now they get a divisional opponent and they need to find a way to win this series if they want to continue to stay in this race. It’s been a nice sight to see the offense have woken up now let’s hope it continues.