What began as a brutal 10-game road trip turned out to be a .500 journey away from the Motor City as the Detroit Tigers swept the Cincinnati Reds this past weekend, returning home with a 5-5 mark. However, the top team in the American League Central awaits their arrival back home for a four-game series this week.
The Cleveland Guardians head to Comerica Park on Monday to open up the weekday divisional battle. They currently hold a six-game lead over the second-place Minnesota Twins — who beat the Tigers, two games to one last week — and a commanding 15-game lead over Detroit.
If the Motor City Kitties want to keep any hope of competing this summer alive, they will need to bring their A-game to the ballpark this week. Take a look below at an abbreviated preview of the upcoming pitching matchups, with Cleveland’s Thursday hurler yet to be decided.
Detroit Tigers (42-48) vs. Cleveland Guardians (56-32)
Times (ET): Monday: 6:40 p.m.; Tuesday: 6:40 p.m.;
Wednesday: 6:40 p.m.; Thursday: 1:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: Covering the Corner
Media: Bally Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 91 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Montero | 15.0 | 22.7 | 7.6 | 6.04 | -0.2 |
| Williams | 4.0 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 3.67 | 0.1 |
Game 91: RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 6.60 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Williams (0-1, 11.25 ERA)
Montero
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521768/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_10.58.38_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Williams
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521770/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_10.59.57_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Game 92 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Maeda | 63.0 | 17.3 | 7.9 | 5.24 | -0.1 |
| Lively | 77.1 | 21.5 | 7.1 | 4.22 | 0.8 |
Game 92: RHP Kenta Maeda (2-5, 6.71 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Lively (8-4, 3.14 ERA)
Maeda
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521774/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_11.00.39_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Lively
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521776/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_11.02.21_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Game 93 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Olson | 95.0 | 22.5 | 7.1 | 2.96 | 2.4 |
| Bibee | 98.0 | 28.4 | 5.9 | 3.27 | 2.2 |
Game 93: RHP Reese Olson (3-8, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (7-3, 3.67 ERA)
Olson
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521778/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_11.03.07_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Bibee
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521779/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_11.03.51_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Game 94 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Flaherty | 89.0 | 33.0 | 4.0 | 3.06 | 2.4 |
| TBD | – | – | – | – | – |
Game 94: RHP Jack Flaherty (5-5, 3.24 ERA) vs. TBD
Flaherty
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25521782/Screen_Shot_2024_07_08_at_11.04.40_AM.png)
Baseball Savant
Series Outlook: Chance to strike before ASB
With the All-Star break just ahead and the true midpoint of the season in the rearview mirror, it is do-or-die time for the Tigers if they want to have any semblance of hope in making something of the 2024 campaign. Of course, that is wishful thinking given how tough it has been for the offense to find consistency, but beating the Guardians will always bring a smile to those who wear the Olde English D.
It is difficult to call this a must-win series given the circumstances, so let us call it, “Boy it sure would be swell if the Tigers can win this one!”