Detroit Tigers (26-33) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (29-32)
When: 6:05 p.m. Thursday, series finale (postponed from Wednesday).
Where: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 in Detroit; Tigers radio affiliates).
Probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Tyler Holton (0-0, 2.32 ERA) vs. Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (4-4, 4.33 ERA).
Tigers lineup: TBA.
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Game notes: The Tigers will be trying to avoid some bad company — they’ve had four or fewer hits in each of their past four games (all losses); a fifth such game tonight would tie the franchise-longest streak, set in <gulp> 2003. Those Tigers, who lost an American League-record 119 games, mustered just 16 hits over five games from March 31-April 5. This year’s edition has 13 hits in two losses to the White Sox and two losses to the Phillies. Still, these Tigers have at least scored six runs during their streak — despite being shut out on Tuesday night in Philly. The 2003 Tigers scored just FOUR runs during their five-game skid to open that season.
The Tigers were slated to start rookie Reese Olson on Wednesday, but with the postponement, they’ll go with fellow rookie Tyler Holton. The 26-year-old (he turns 27 on Tuesday) has been effective in his first season with the Tigers — he threw 10 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year — with 11 of his 17 outings featuring no runs allowed. Holton hasn’t quite been elite, with only 23 strikeouts in his 31 innings, but his mere eight walks suggest he has picked up on the “command the strike zone” edict better than most.
After tonight’s finale, the Tigers will have to zip back to Detroit for a three-game set against the Diamondbacks beginning Friday night. Maybe the NL West leaders can bring their roof with them, for some relief from the rough air quality in Detroit (and Philly) this week?
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Contact Ryan Ford at rford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @theford. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.