Series: Four games at Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California
First pitch: Thursday-Saturday — 9:38 p.m.; Sunday — 4:07 p.m.
TV/radio: All four games on FanDuel Sports/97.1 FM
Probables: Thursday — RHP Casey Mize (4-1, 2.12) vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 4.31); Friday — LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.34) vs. RHP Jose Soriano (2-4, 4.50); Saturday — RHP Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.34) vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 6.65); Sunday — RHP Reese Olson (3-2, 3.55) vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-4, 5.09).
Scouting report
Mize, Tigers: His four wins in the month of April were the most by a Tiger since Jordan Zimmermann won five in April of 2016. He’s allowed a run or less in four of his five starts, holding hitters to a .216 average and a meek 37.5% hard-hit rate. He’s especially dominating lefties (.153/.219/.288). Lefties are 4 for 24 with a 50% whiff rate against his splitter.
Kikuchi, Angels: He lasted just two innings in Minnesota in his last start, allowing 9 hits and 4 walks. His walk rate this season is an uncharacteristic 13%. The velocity and spin rates are down across the board, his four-seam fastball down a full mph to 94.2 mph. He has added a sweeper and sinker to his mix, but he’s used both pitches sparingly so far.
Excellent April which we haven’t seen much of over the last decade.
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It was huge win collectively for the Tigers in historical teams, first of all. It was their 19th of the season, making them the first team in franchise history to have 19 wins on May 1. It was also their 18th win in April and that matches the club record set by the world championship team in 1984.
Kikuchi is so inconsistent… No idea how he got that contract. He will throw a gem sometimes…but command has always been an issue. Drove me nuts in Toronto. I wouldn’t swing in the 1st inning at all until he proves he can throw strikes.
Series: Four games at Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California