The Detroit Tigers will play a four-game series, against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tigers are coming off being swept at the hands of the Royals while the Blue Jays are coming off a series win over the White Sox.
Detroit Tigers (23-26) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (22-26)
Game 1:
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit / SN1
Game 2:
Date: Friday, May 24
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit / SN1
Game 3:
Date: Saturday, May 25
Time: 1:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit / SportsNet
Game 4:
Date: Sunday, May 26
Time: 11:35 pm EST
Broadcast: Roku
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.79 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (2-3, 4.89 ERA)
Flaherty is making his tenth Tigers start to get the series going he is 1-3 with a 3.79 ERA, a 2.78 FIP, a 1.06 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Diamondbacks going six innings giving up two runs on five hits; he walked two and struck out nine. In his career against Toronto in two starts he is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings. Gausman goes for the Blue Jays he is 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA, a 3.50 FIP, a 1.51 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Rays going six innings giving up three runs on eight hits; he walked one and struck out six. In his career against the Tigers, he is2-3 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 66.2 innings.
Game 2: Matt Manning (0-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. Alek Manoah (1-1, 3.00 ERA)
Manning gets the second game making his sixth start, he is 0-1 with a 4.88 ERA, a 4.20 FIP, a 1.55 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Diamondbacks going five innings giving up four runs on ten hits; he walked three and struck out one. In his career against the Blue Jays, he is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Manoah goes for the Blue Jays, he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, a 4.71 FIP, a 0.94 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings. In his last start, he faced the Rays going seven shutout innings giving up one hit; he walked one and struck out seven. In his career against Detroit, he is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 22 innings.
Game 3: TBD vs. Jose Berrios (5-3, 2.98 ERA)
The Tigers haven’t announced a starter yet for this one as they are expecting Kenta Maeda to return to the rotation it just may be Saturday or Sunday. This would be Reese Olson’s spot if Maeda goes Sunday. Berrios goes for Toronto he is 5-3 with a 2.98 ERA, a 4.64 FIP, a 1.11 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the White Sox going six innings giving up three runs on eight hits; he walked two and struck out six. In his career against Detroit, he is 7-2 with a 4.48 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts in 76.1 innings.
Game 4: TBD vs. Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 2.64 ERA)
This is also TBD in case Maeda gets the ball here. This could also be Olson’s start if Maeda goes Saturday. Kikuchi gets the finale for Toronto, he is 2-4 with a 2.64 ERA, a 2.61 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 58 innings. In his last start, he faced the White Sox going six innings giving up three runs, two earned on five hits; he walked three and struck out six. In his career against Detroit, he is 1-1 with a 4.71 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Tigers vs. Blue Jays Leaders
Tigers:
AVG – Kerry Carpenter – .281
HR – Riley Greene – 9
RBI – Kerry Carpenter – 25
IP – Tarik Skubal – 60.0
ERA – Reese Olson – 2.16
K – Jack Flaherty – 72
Blue Jays:
AVG – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – .279
HR – Daulton Varsho – 8
RBI – Daulton Varsho – 25
IP – Jose Berrios – 60.1
ERA – Yusei Kikuchi – 2.64
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 61
Tigers vs. Blue Jays Numbers
Tigers
AVG: .232 (20)
OPS: .670 (23)
R: 202 (20)
HR: 39 (29)
ERA: 3.63 (10)
K: 419 (15)
WHIP: 1.17 (7)
Blue Jays
AVG: .229 (23)
OPS: .671 (22)
R: 182 (29)
HR: 40 (27)
ERA: 4.29 (21)
K: 393 (25)
WHIP: 1.33 (22)
Wrap Up
This series will be a series of two teams who had playoff aspirations at the start of the season but things haven’t gone right for them. The winner of this series could right the ship and turn their season around as they enter the dog days of summer with the calendar flipping to November.
