Probables: Friday – RHP Nick Martinez (4-6, 3.70) vs. TBD; Saturday – RHP Brady Singer (6-4, 4.59) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (5-6, 3.41); Sunday – LHP Wade Miley (1-0, 9.00) vs. RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 4.32).
SCOUTING REPORT
Martinez, Reds: He’s coming off a comfortable win against Arizona, where he allowed only a solo homer in six innings. He is a savvy, low-strikeout (17%), low-walk (5.3%), low hard-contact (34.8%) veteran. Left-handed hitters will see a lot of his 92-92 mph four-seam with changeups and cutters. Righties will see a lot of sinkers and sliders, with the occasional four-seam up. He will also mix in a curveball.
Tigers: This is right-hander Keider Montero’s spot in the rotation. Manager AJ Hinch is holding open the option to use an opener ahead of Montero.
Miley recently named as possibel original drug source for Tyler Skaggs…no bueño.
Martinez doesnt pitch too deep into games and Singer is someone we have seen a lot in KC. He is struggle bussing this year. Winning game 1 will be the key. Their lineup is underperforming by a lot, but they are starting to perk up. Besides Elly, CES and TJ Friedl are guys to keep down.
A little on Matt Gage called up to replace Brieske and why they chose Gage as the one to come up. From the Freep
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To replace Brieske, the Tigers selected left-handed reliever Matt Gage from Triple-A Toledo, creating a spot for him on the 40-man roster by transferring right-hander Jackson Jobe — set for Tommy John surgery — to the 60-day injured list.
Gage, 32, had a 1.67 ERA in Triple-A Toledo, with four walks and 28 strikeouts over 32⅓ innings in 23 games. When he pitches for the Tigers, it’ll mark his third MLB season. He previously appeared in 11 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 and five games with the Houston Astros in 2023.
For the Mud Hens, Gage threw 46.2% cutters, 21.9% four-seam fastballs, 13.9% sinkers, 10% changeups and 8% sweepers. His fastball averaged 92.3 mph.
“There’s really no words when you’re playing a kids game,” said Gage, who owns a 1.83 ERA with nine walks and 20 strikeouts across 19⅔ innings in his MLB career. “You’re just out there having fun and taking it day by day — every second. You never know when the dream is going to be over.”
The Tigers promoted Gage, in part, because of their upcoming opponents through the end of June: The Cincinnati Reds have five left-handed hitters (including switch-hitters) among their 13 position players, while the Pittsburgh Pirates five, the Tampa Bay Rays have seven, the Athletics have five and the Minnesota Twins have five.
