The Detroit Tigers have not lost three straight games since their season-opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ll try to dodge a second three-game slide when they host the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
Detroit had won five straight before losing two in a row to the visiting Texas Rangers this weekend by scores of 10-3 and 6-1.
“If you don’t see me too high during our highs, you’re not going to see me too low after a couple of (losses),” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “This is all part of the ebbs and flows of competing at this level. It doesn’t make it OK. I wish we would’ve played better (Sunday), I wish we would’ve jumped on these guys. But we will be ready for (Monday).”
The pitching staff surrendered eight home runs in the last two games, just as the offense cooled off. The Tigers didn’t score on Sunday until Spencer Torkelson’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly.
“We haven’t dwelled on losses all season,” catcher Dillon Dingler said. “So I hope we come back (Monday), clean slate against the Red Sox. Turn the page.”
Rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe will start the series opener for Detroit. Jobe (2-0, 4.88 ERA) is coming off his worst outing of the season. He gave up six runs on eight hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings against Colorado on Wednesday.
His teammates bailed him out, winning 8-6 in extra innings. In fact, Jobe has been a sort of a good luck charm for the Tigers — they’ve won all six games he’s started.
Jobe will be facing the Red Sox for the first time.
It’s been nearly the opposite story for his mound opponent, Tanner Houck. Boston is 2-6 in the games Houck (0-2, 6.10) has started.
A lack of run support is partially to blame — the Red Sox have scored two or fewer runs in half of those outings. In his most recent start, he lasted only 4 2/3 innings against Texas on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits.
“Grinded my way through the entire time,” Houck said.
Houck is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 17 strikeouts in four career outings against the Tigers, including three starts.
The Red Sox have won four of their last five games. Their pitching has been stellar during that stretch, allowing just eight runs.
Rafael Devers may not want to play first base but he’s certainly happy swinging the bat. The designated hitter, a former third baseman who has openly balked at changing positions again this season, has knocked in eight runs over the last four games. He blasted a two-run homer 440 feet in Boston’s 3-1 win over the host Kansas City on Sunday.
“He’s swinging the bat well. He’s in a good spot,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s seeing the ball well and executing his plan. That ball was demolished. You look at the numbers right now and he’s probably the best DH in the American League right now.”
Cora knows his team faces a difficult task over the next three nights.
“They’re really good,” Cora said of the Tigers. “We can talk about their pitching but their defense is solid and their baserunning is amazing and they hit the ball hard.”
–Field Level Media
