SERIES PREVIEW: Struggling Tigers hope to turn things around against the Royals

Daniel Norris (2-3, 4.38 ERA, 44 K) vs. Jason Hammel (1-6, 5.98 ERA, 38 K)

Monday, May 29 @ 7:15 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN & Fox Sports Detroit | Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

After a tough series against the Chicago White Sox that saw the Tigers strike out 49 times and leave 77 runners on base in just four games, Detroit begins a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.

The series features two teams that were once the powers of the AL Central but are struggling during the 2017 season. The Tigers send Daniel Norris to the mound tonight as the two teams begin the series on ESPN at 7:15 p.m. ET. Norris hopes to close out the month of May with back-to-back strong starts, after going six and a third innings and allowing just one earned run last time out.

The Royals are seven games below .500 and sit dead last in the AL Central. They will send Jason Hammel to the mound tonight. Hammel went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA last season with the Chicago Cubs, but hasn’t seen much success, if any, with the Royals this season. He is 1-6 and has allowed 14 earned runs over his last 19 innings, including three last start against the Yankees after making an adjustment to his setup and delivery mechanics.

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Justin Verlander (4-3, 4.87 ERA, 58 K) vs. Miguel Almonte (0-0, 27.00 ERA, 0 K)

Tuesday, May 30 @ 8:15 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Justin Verlander was trending well before his last start. He was a winner in three of his last four games, and looked like he was ready to make that mid-season run that put him in Cy Young contention last season. However, the Houston Astros wanted none of it as they tuned up Verlander to the sound of nine hits and six earned runs in just five innings. Verlander didn’t get the loss as the Tigers made a small comeback in that one, but he did elevate his ERA from 4.39 to 4.87 and took a hit to the ego.

Miguel Almonte makes a spot start for the Royals in game two of the series on Tuesday. Almonte has appeared in one game this season, but probably wishes he didn’t. He gave up four hits and three runs in just an inning of work. Almonte has found more success in his day job, however, pitching for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Double-A ball. He has started six games for the Naturals and features a 1.86 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just six walks.

Matthew Boyd (2-5, 5.40 ERA, 36 K) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-4, 4.43 ERA, 36 K)

Wednesday, May 31 @ 8:15 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Matthew Boyd has had a rough May and with the success of Buck Farmer in his last start, may be pitching for his job (pun intended). Boyd struggled with command last start, giving up three runs to the White Sox in less than five innings. He is 0-4 in May with a 6.92 ERA and hasn’t seen the end of the 6th inning since May 10. Boyd’s days in the Tigers regular pitching rotation could be numbered if he doesn’t turn things around quickly.

Ian Kennedy is still searching for his first victory of the 2017 campaign. He hasn’t exactly been putting himself in the best situations, though, as he allowed multiple home runs in his previous three of four starts, including two against Minnesota on May 21 where Kennedy only saw two innings before being pulled from the game. Ian did have a start earlier this year where he went eight innings and allowed just two hits, but the Royals waited until the bottom of the 9th to beat the Angels, 1-0, in that one so Kennedy didn’t get the win.

Both the Tigers and the Royals probably wish they could hit the reset button on the 2017 season. They sit in 4th and 5th, respectively, in the AL Central after owning the division over the last five or so years. The Tigers have fallen victim to the injury bug again, putting Ian Kinsler on the 10-day DL. They also designated Tyler Collins for assignment and called up Alex Presley, whom was hitting .213 for the Toledo Mud Hens in 40 games this season.

Time is running out for the Tigers to start putting any type of a winning streak together. As the starting pitching falters and the injuries continue to mount, Detroit hopes to turn things around before they fall too deep into a hole and become certified sellers at the trade deadline. The good thing for them, however, is the Royals are also struggling mightily and this series could be a chance to get back towards .500 and make a little run. I think the Tigers win two of three in Kansas City, but they’ll have to do it with the bats, as all the pitchers in this series feature ERAs above 4.25 this season.