First pitch: Monday-Tuesday — 6:40 p.m.; Wednesday — 1:10 p.m.
TV/radio: All three games on Bally Sports Detroit, 97.1. FM
Probables:Monday — LHP Steven Matz (1-2, 5.55) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 4.91); Tuesday — RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 4.35) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.91); Wednesday — RHP Miles Mikolas (2-3, 5.91) vs. RHP Reese Olson (0-4, 3.18).
Scouting report
Matz, Cardinals: After a bumpy first two starts, he’s been on point the last three, allowing three earned runs in 15 innings. It’s been a struggle for him against right-handed hitters, though. They’re hitting .333 with an .858 OPS against him. And the primary reason for that is his changeup, his best pitch against righties, has faltered. Right-handers are hitting .353 and slugging .618 off the pitch.
Maeda, Tigers: He got back on track last Tuesday in Tampa. His mechanics were much cleaner. He was able to command and get some carry on his four-seam fastball and, for the first time this season, mixed in all seven pitches. He dusted off the sinker which he used effectively inside against right-handed hitters. The result was five scoreless innings, three hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 4.35), Cardinals: This will be the longtime Twin’s 27th start against the Tigers and 15th at Comerica Park. And he’s coming off two solid starts, allowing two earned runs total in 12 innings against the Brewers and Diamondbacks. If he gets to his soft stuff in leverage counts, he’s tough. Opponents are hitting .179 with a 41% whiff rate against his 80-81 mph sweeper and they are 0-for-12 against his changeup. Walks have been an issue for him, though. His walk rate is just under 10%.
RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.91), Tigers: He was a first-round pick of the Cardinals and pitched the first seven seasons of his career there before being traded to Baltimore last August. It feels like he’s pitched better than his stat line would indicate this season, and the expected ERA (.357) indicates that. He’s throwing a lot of strikes (3% walk rate) and has been nicked by a lot of soft-contact hits. His hard-hit rate is a low 35.8%.
Game 2
Steven Matz (1-2, 5.55), Cardinals: After a solid first three starts, it’s been rough the last two, allowing 12 earned runs in 9⅓ innings. It’s been a struggle for him against right-handed hitters, though. They’re hitting .333 with an .858 OPS against him. And the primary reason for that is his changeup, his best pitch against righties, has faltered. Right-handers are hitting .353 and slugging .618 off the pitch.
Matt Manning (0-1, 2.92), Tigers: This would be his third big-league start this season. The Tigers didn’t officially announce he would be called up as the 27th man, but Tuesday is his scheduled start day. He pitched 5⅔ innings of no-hit baseball against the Mets earlier this month and gave up four runs in a start against the Twins. In his three appearances at Toledo, he’s allowed six runs in 14 innings with 18 strikeouts and four walks.
I feel like Flaherty has pitched much better this year than his numbers would indicate. He’s kept us in most games that he has pitched.
Also, I bought my youngest grandson tickets to today’s game for his birthday. It’s his first tiger game. He got an autograph from Faedo, and Flaherty threw him a baseball.
Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit