First pitch: Monday-Tuesday — 6:40 p.m.; Wednesday — 1:10 p.m.
TV/radio: All three games on FanDuel Sports/97.1 FM
Probables: Monday — RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-3, 6.38) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (6-12, 4.76); Tuesday — RHP Hunter Brown (10-5, 2.45) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42); Wednesday — LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.01) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (8-10, 5.20).
Scouting report
Arrighetti, Astros: This will be his third start in August after spending most of the season in Triple A, and his first two were bumpy. He gave up 11 hits and five runs in 3.2 innings against the Marlins, then allowed only one hit in five innings last time out against the Red Sox, but walked five. He has elite extension (7-foot-3) and he mixes five pitches off a 93-mph four-seamer (.152 opponent average).
Flaherty, Tigers: If it weren’t for bad luck … Flaherty, especially this month, has pitched better than his stat line would indicate. His start earlier in the week in Chicago was a prime example when he was KO’d in the fifth by a string of mostly softly-struck but well-placed singles. His ERA is 76 points higher than his FIP (fielding independent pitching) and the opponent batting average on balls in play (.307) is significantly higher than the .238 opponent average.
I just thought of something. Are we trying to do something special with Troy Melton’s service time to give us another year of team control? Otherwise, I have no idea why he can’t be in the rotation.
Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit
