DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers are in the heart of the American League playoff race as they head to Miami for three games against the Marlins.
Game 1 – Tarik Skubal (13-4, 2.10 ERA) vs. Sandy Alcantara (8-12, 5.67 ERA)
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Having Tarik Skubal on the bump is always a great way to start a series.
The Marlins have their tall, athletic right-hander and 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara on the mound for game one.
His arsenal features a two-seam fastball with plenty of movement that he can make sink or fade arm side. His changeup mirrors his two-seam fastball in shape but is about 7 mph slower to throw hitters off. He also features a four-seam fastball, a curveball, and a slider.
Alcantara has been dominant in his last five starts, holding opponents to just a .190 average and striking out 26 batters in 27 innings pitched.
One Tiger who has a good history against Alcantara? Javier Baez. In 17 career at-bats vs. Alcantara, Baez is hitting .294 with five hits, a double, and an RBI.
Game 2 – Charlie Morton (9-10, 5.59 ERA) vs. Janson Junk (6-3, 4.48 ERA)
Charlie Morton will take the mound in game two of the series. What the Tigers need from Morton: innings, strikes, and command.
His stuff is great; there’s a reason he’s been in the league for so long. He struggled with strikes his last outing, and when he was in the zone he was over the heart of the plate.
In his last two outings combined, he only pitched 6.2 innings and gave up a total of nine earned runs – he also walked more batters than he struck out.
Janson Junk will start for Miami in game two. He is a right-handed pitcher, and features a four-seam fastball, a firm slider and a sweeping slider, a curveball and a changeup.
Janson locates his pitches very well and does not walk batters. His last outing vs. Washington he struggled, only pitching 4.1 innings and surrendering six earned runs.
Game 3 – TBD vs. Adam Mazur (0-3, 6.30 ERA)
Adam Mazur will toe the rubber for the Marlins in game three of the series. He is a right-handed pitcher for the Marlins who made his major league debut just last year in 2024.
He throws from a unique high three-quarters arm slot, and features a swing-and-miss slider, a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a sweeping slider, a curveball, and a changeup. His last two starts combined he pitched a total of 10.1 innings and surrendered 11 runs, eight earned.
What else to know
The Marlins are currently without their starting third baseman, Connor Norby, who went on the IL on Sept. 5 with a left quad strain. They are also missing their slugging left fielder, Kyle Stowers, who is on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain.
Who has been hot for the Marlins?
- Jakob Marsee, CF for the Marlins and Michigan native, is hitting .367 in his last 7 games with a home run and three doubles.
- Otto Lopez, 2B, is 9 for his last 26 with two home runs in his last 7 games.
- Joey Wiemer, OF, is 6 for his last 18 with two home runs in his last 7 games.
We will most likely see a lot of left-handed hitters in the lineup for Detroit considering all three probable starting pitchers for Miami perform better vs. right-handed hitters.
- Kerry Carpenter this season vs. RHP: .831 OPS (on-base + slugging), 21 HR, 16 doubles.
- Colt Keith this season vs. RHP: .784 OPS, 13 HR, 20 doubles.
- Riley Greene this season vs. RHP: .904 OPS, 30 HR, 22 doubles.
The Tigers’ magic number to clinch the AL Central division currently sits at 8.