DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers came out of the All-Star break with a bang, scoring seven runs against the Baltimore Orioles, paced by three homers, to take the opening game of the second half.
But Saturday night was a completely different story. The powerful Tigers offense got a leadoff single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning from Ian Kinsler and failed to record another hit in the 3-0 loss.
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Now, Justin Verlander will look to build off of his best start of the season and help the Tigers secure a series victory and avoid falling below .500 for the first time all season.
First Pitch: 1:08 p.m. on FSD
Verlander tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start before being pulled in the bottom of the 8th. Though it was easily JV's best start of the year, a one-run, six-strikeout performance, the game turned out to be the worst of the season for the Tigers.
The bullpen fell apart, allowing seven earned runs in the bottom of the 9th to turn what looked like a 2-0 series lead over the Twins into a shocking 1-1 tie. Two days later, the Tigers had lost three straight and entered the break a .500 ball club.
Verlander is solid against the Orioles, holding their current roster to a .207 average with 52 strikeouts in 198 at-bats. Star outfielder Adam Jones has really struggled against Verlander in his career, going 6-33 with one homer and nine strikeouts.
Detroit's offense will battle Miguel Gonzalez, a 31-year-old right hander who's been average all season. He comes in with an ERA over 5.70 since the start of June and very little experience against the Tigers.
In 82 at-bats, the Tigers are hitting .317 with a .956 OPS against Gonzalez, including Rajai Davis, who's 4-12 with three homers against the righty.
But Davis didn't crack the starting lineup Sunday. Instead, the Tigers will go with:
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Anthony Gose, CF
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Victor Martinez, DH
J.D. Martinez, RF
Alex Avila, C
Marc Krauss, 1B
Jose Iglesias, SS
Andrew Romine, 3B
The Orioles will go with:
Manny Machado, 3B
Jimmy Paredes, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, RF
Matt Wieters, C
J.J. Hardy, SS
Travis Snider, LF
Jonathan Schoop, 2B
Chris Parmelee, 1B
After Sunday's series finale with the Orioles, the Tigers will welcome the Seattle Mariners to Comerica Park for a four-game series.