Arizona Diamondbacks (40-26) vs. Detroit Tigers (30-33)
First Pitch: 7:10 EST
Weather: 78°F • Partly Cloudy • 0% PoP
Stadium: Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
Media: Fox Sports Detroit | 97.1 The Ticket
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Tigers Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler (2B)
- Alex Avila (C)
- Miguel Cabrera (1B)
- Victor Martinez (DH)
- J.D. Martinez (RF)
- Justin Upton (LF)
- Nicholas Castellanos (3B)
- Andrew Romine (CF)
- Jose Iglesias (SS)
Pitching Matchup:
Taijuan Walker (4-3, 3.46 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 5.72 ERA)
What to Watch For:
In his last two starts, Jordan Zimmermann has been better. In those two starts, he’s gone 12 innings and given up three runs. He would have earned his sixth victory of the season were it not for a bullpen meltdown in the eighth inning in Boston. However, hopefully with the improve slider the success that Zimmermann has seen over the last two starts will continue.
Opposite of Zimmermann will be Taijuan Walker, who hasn’t pitched in nearly a month. After developing a blister on his finger, Walker has been out of the Diamondbacks rotation since their series in Sand Diego in mid-May. Reports are that he’ll be on a pitch count, so it is up to the Tigers hitters to make sure that pitch count grows–quickly. Nicholas Castellanos extended his hitting streak to 11 games last night, something to definitely keep an eye on.
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Looking Back:
Buck Farmer, who had been so good in two starts, was not so good last night. The big righty went 2.1 innings giving up six earned runs and putting the Tigers in an early hole. The offense bailed Farmer out, tying the game with a six-run sixth inning, earning Farmer the no decision. The bullpen could have been hearlded as the heroes of last night as Chad Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, and Alex Wilson combined for 5.2 innings of shutout baseball. Yet, a home run by David Peralta in the top of ninth off closer Justin Wilson became the difference in the game as the Tigers dropped the opener 7-6.
Before You Watch:
https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-tigers-news/jbernhardt/five-tigers-that-deserve-consideration-for-the-2017-all-star-game/93723/
https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-tigers-news/amuller/francisco-rodriguez-not-happy-mop-guy-role-bullpen/93930/
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