Things keep rolling along for the Detroit Tigers, who have now earned series wins in their last four matchups dating back to a three-gamer at the Minnesota Twins in mid-April. Since then, the Olde English D has prevailed over the Tampa Bay Rays (away), Kansas City Royals (home) and the St. Louis Cardinals (home). Who said the schedule was getting harder?
AJ Hinch and Co. now hit the road and head to the Big Apple to face the New York Yankees for a three-game weekend series. Currently residing in the second spot of the American League East standings, the Bronx Bombers are coming off a four-game series loss — three games to one — at the Baltimore Orioles, which has given the latter control of their division.
The Tigers have the momentum coming in but the Yanks have looked good so far in 2024, so this should be an exciting series on the field. Take a look below at who is scheduled to take the mound over the next few days.
Detroit Tigers (18-13) at New York Yankees (20-13)
Times (ET): Friday: 7:05 p.m.; Saturday: 1:05 p.m.; Sunday: 1:35 p.m.
Place: Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
SB Nation Site: Pinstripe Alley
Media: Bally Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 32 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Olson | 28.1 | 21.1 | 8.9 | 2.78 | 0.8 |
| Stroman | 31.2 | 23.2 | 10.9 | 4.78 | 0.1 |
Game 32: RHP Reese Olson (0-4, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1, 3.69 ERA)
Olson’s last start, which came against KC, was his best so far this season, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight in a game the Tigers let get out of hand in the final innings. The 24-year-old now has a pair of quality starts to his name and appears to have moved past his one rotten outing against Pittsburgh earlier in the month. He missed his last turn in the rotation due to a weather-induced doubleheader.
Stroman’s record and ERA are a little bit deceiving — as his FIP suggests — as his numbers have been buoyed by his two opening starts in which he did not allow an earned run. The 33-year-old’s performance over the following games tells a more honest story: a 5.95 ERA and 6.19 FIP stretching over 19 2⁄3 innings and four games, allowing five home runs but striking out 22. He’s given up at least two runs and has only lasted a maximum of 5 1⁄3 frames.
Game 33 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Mize | 26.1 | 15.9 | 5.3 | 3.06 | 0.5 |
| Schmidt | 31.0 | 26.2 | 10.0 | 4.07 | 0.4 |
Game 33: RHP Casey Mize (1-0, 3.08 ERA) vs. RHP Clarke Schmidt (2-1, 3.19 ERA)
Mize continues his successful comeback from major surgery and it has been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Tigers. Detroit has won all five games the 27-year-old has started, including a pair of quality starts, and while his strikeout numbers are still lacking, his reluctance to offer free passes has served him well. His last time out against the Royals was not his best outing, but he managed to throw five frames of three-run (two earned) ball with no walks and a pair of Ks.
Schmidt has been a perfectly cromulent middle-of-the-rotation starter for New York this season so far, keeping his opponents to three runs or less in all of his appearances but also surrendering at least one in each as well. The 28-year-old has yet to eclipse the six-inning mark but he did make it to 5 2⁄3 last time against the O’s, allowing a run on three hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out five.
Game 34 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Skubal | 36.2 | 29.7 | 4.3 | 2.18 | 1.2 |
| Cortes | 42.0 | 21.5 | 4.1 | 3.49 | 0.7 |
Game 34: LHP Tarik Skubal (4-0, 1.72 ERA) vs. LHP Nestor Cortes (1-3, 3.86 ERA)
Skubal’s run of dominance continued into his last outing, which saw the southpaw throw a season-high seven innings allowing just a run on four hits and a walk while striking out six. The 27-year-old is currently tied for sixth in the majors in fWAR (1.2), fourth in FIP (2.18) and 11th in ERA (1.72) but second in expected ERA (2.17). The Tigers have lost just one of his six starts — against the Texas Rangers in mid-April.
Cortes has had a bit of an up-and-down season but has been mostly reliable when it comes to eating innings. After a slow start in his first two outings, the 29-year-old tossed an eight-inning gem for his best performance of the campaign so far, but then quickly regressed in the next. His last two games have been quite mid, putting up a 4.85 ERA and a 4.21 FIP over 13 innings pitched, serving up a pair of dingers and walks while striking out nine in a pair of losses.
Series Outlook: Keep the streak alive!
The pitching matchups appear to favor the visitors in this one but the difference between the two teams at the plate is rather stark. The Yankees are ranked eighth in OPS (.729) while the Tigers are at No. 22 (.666); New York is No. 18 in strikeouts (257) and Detroit is ninth (280). Considering that Yankee Stadium has the fourth-largest park factor in MLB (117) things could get wild if the pitching does not keep the ball in the park.