TV/radio: All four games are on FanDuel Sports/97.1 FM
Probables: Thursday — LHP Eric Lauer (5-2, 2.80) vs. RHP Reese Olson (4-3, 2.71); Friday — RHP Jose Berrios (6-4, 3.87) vs. RHP Keider Montero (4-2, 4.28); Saturday — RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 4.01) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.19); Sunday — RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 5.14) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (5-10, 4.77).
Scouting report
Lauer, Blue Jays: In professional limbo last season — stuck in Triple A with Houston and then finishing the year in Korea — Lauer has emerged as a key piece of the Jays’ rotation. After starting the season in the bullpen, this will be his eighth straight start, and the Jays were 6-1 in the previous seven. He’s got six pitches, but he leans on a deceptive 91-mph four-seam (31% strikeout rate) and cutter, mixing curveball and changeups to righties and sliders to lefties. Comerica Park suits him, too. He’s got a 70% fly ball rate.
Olson, Tigers: He’s coming off a beauty in Texas, where he matched zeroes with Patrick Corbin for five innings, allowing two hits with six strikeouts. His changeup was especially on-point, to righties and lefties. He got seven whiffs on 16 swings with it, and the three balls that were put in play were softly struck (83 mph exit velo). His only regret afterward was his inability to finish at-bats quicker. He was at 90 pitches after five innings
… Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) went 1 for 4 in his first rehab start with Toledo. He is expected to play outfield Wednesday. “He got through the game well and did everything we asked,” Hinch said. “He’ll play two-thirds of the game today, depending on his activity level and then he’ll be off (Thursday).” Hinch said Carpenter is expected to remain with the Mud Hens through the weekend.
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The decision to sit Greene on Wednesday against Pirates lefty Bailey Falter was an easy one for Hinch.
“He doesn’t look like he’s in a good place,” he said. “Everybody needs a blow every now and then. He looks like he’s had a long week.”
A long month.
…“With Riley, it’s all about getting good pitches to hit,” Hinch said. “Last night there was quite a big of swing and miss and most were not on great pitches to hit. That’s the way it is for every hitter, but specifically for Riley, when he can be more disciplined, he hits more styles of pitches into more areas of the ballpark.”
To keep it in perspective, this recent skid is a small patch of what has been a career season for Greene. His 25 homers and 79 RBIs are career highs. He, Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) are the only three players in the game right now with at least 21 doubles, 25 homers and 79 RBIs.
…
He’s on pace for 40 homers and 125 RBIs.
leads the majors with 135 strikeouts.
“I remember early in his career, I was getting asked about his power,” Hinch said. “And now his power is showing up and the questions have shifted to, can he make more contact? There is a tradeoff in trying to chase one or the other. But he’s a pretty well-rounded hitter. What we’re trying to do with him is keep his valleys to a minimum.”
This is a pretty big opportunity for Olson to develop into a “win day” type of pitcher. We badly need a second guy like that, and Olson is very close to being that type of guy.
We are 1 - 9 over the last 10 games with that one win being a 2 to 1 decision over the Rangers. If my math is correct, we’ve been out scored 66 to 26 ( -40 runs in 10 games) over that time. Riley has been on one of the coldest coolers I’ve ever seen. Hopefully enough guys start catching fire soon. If not, this might be one of the biggest collapses in Detroit sports history.
Interesting game cause Jays are hot, and the Tigers bats are beyond due. The guy pitching for the Jays pitched for the Kia Tigers last year in Gwangju, South Korea. He’s been on a role recently but I still shit my pants most of his starts.
I say Tigers 9 Jays 6 tonight. Tons of dongs on both sides.
Should be a packed house too… With lots of Jays fans all weekend.
Series: Four games at Comerica Park, Detroit
