DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have lost just three of their first 14 games this season, and each of the first two were followed by bounce-back winning streaks.
On Tuesday, the New York Yankees (7-7) jumped on the Tigers' bullpen in the 7th inning and evened up the four-game series at a game apiece. Nathan Eovaldi shut down the Detroit offense for seven innings, allowing just one run on eight hits in the win.
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David Price will try to do the same to the Yankees Wednesday and give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the series. Price is making his fourth start of the year after winning on Opening Day and taking no decisions in each of his last two outings.
First Pitch: 7:08 p.m. on FSD
Price, who led the MLB with 17 starts of at least eight innings in 2014, pitched eight one-run frames against the White Sox Friday, striking out nine and allowing just four hits. He brings a 0.40 ERA into Wednesday's start, having surrendered just one solo home run on the year.
As former AL East rivals, Jacoby Ellsbury owns Price. Ellsbury hits .327 with seven extra-base hits in 49 at-bats against the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner.
Catcher Brian McCann also boasts excellent numbers against Price, hitting .500 with three homers in 14 at-bats.
On the other hand, Alex Rodriguez can't figure out the electric lefty, batting just .233 with 17 strikeouts against him in 43 chances. Rodriguez is 0-7 with two walks in the series.
Adam Warren will oppose Price for his third start of the season. Warren is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA and couldn't get through six innings in either of his first two starts. In three relief appearances against the Tigers last year, Warren allowed one run in 3.1 innings. Tiger batters hit a career .167 in 30 at-bats against the 27-year-old.
The Tigers' lineup will look like this against the right-hander:
Anthony Gose, CF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
J.D. Martinez, RF
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Alex Avila, C
Jose Iglesias, SS
New York will counter with:
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Chris Young, LF
Alex Rodriguez, DH
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Carlos Beltran, RF
Chase Headley, 3B
Gregorio Petit, 2B
Didi Gregorius, SS
With their loss Tuesday, the Tigers fell into a tie for first place with the Kansas City Royals atop the American League Central Division. The Royals will look to complete a sweep of the Twins Wednesday.
The struggling Anibal Sanchez will take the mound in the series finale Thursday afternoon. He'll battle Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka.