BALTIMORE – After the deadline deals that sent David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria out of Detroit for a slew of talented young prospects, the Detroit Tigers' aspirations for a late playoff push came to a screeching halt.
But with 58 games left on the docket, the season is far from over.
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On Sunday, Tigers fans will get a look at their new top prospect, left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris. Norris was the centerpiece of the package Toronto sent to Detroit in the Price deal. As a 22-year-old with a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a standout slider, Norris is a typical Dave Dombrowski pitcher, and one who the Tigers hope to see at the top of the rotation for many years.
First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. on FSD
Norris overcame some command problems early in his minor league career to strike out 163 batters in 124 1/3 innings in 2014 and post a WHIP of 1.12. He won 12 games in the Blue Jays' minor league system and finished with an overall ERA of 2.53.
In five starts with the Blue Jays this season, Norris owned a 3.86 ERA and struck out 18 batters in 23 1/3 innings. Command was again an issue, as he allowed 12 walks and 23 hits.
Norris will make his first start against the Orioles Sunday, though he did allow one run in a relief appearance against them last September.
Baltimore will line up against Norris like this:
Manny Machado, 3B
Gerardo Parra, LF
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, 1B
Matt Wieters, C
J.J. Hardy, SS
Jimmy Paredes, DH
Jonathan Schoop, 2B
Nolan Reimold, RF
The Orioles will send out right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who got shelled by the Tigers in Detroit on July 17. The Tigers scored seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, sending Jimenez to his fifth loss of the year.
Jimenez owns a 3.73 ERA and has 108 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings for the Orioles this season.
The Tigers' lineup will be:
Anthony Gose, CF
Jose Iglesias, SS
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Victor Martinez, DH
J.D. Martinez, RF
James McCann, C
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Alex Avila, 1B
Rajai Davis, LF
A loss Sunday would hand the Tigers their third straight series loss to a mediocre team. The Tigers haven't won a series since July 8 when they squeaked out a one-run victory in a rubber match against the last-place Mariners.
Detroit welcomes the first-place Royals to Comerica Park Tuesday for a three-game series after an off-day.