I asked for an autograph...
A thus far successful road trip for the Bluebirds continues from Boston to Detroit, where they take on the Tigers for three. Detroit is kinda the same team they've been for years now: good offense loaded with dangerous hitters, baaaaad bullpen. What they're missing now compared to when they were winning NL Central titles is starting pitching. Max Scherzer and David Price are gone, Anibal Sanchez's career has taken a turn for the dumpster, and they can't grow a pitching prospect even with Miracle Prospect Gro (patent pending patent pending). Verlander is still good (when he makes it out there) as is free agent pickup Jordan Zimmermann despite his battles with declining strikeout rates, while rookie Michael Fulmer (nabbed in the Cespedes trade) has also been effective in seven starts thus far.
Here's the thing though. When Mike Pelfrey is your fourth best starter, you might have some problems. It all adds up to a .500ish record, which is where these guys are.
Pitching Matchups
TUE 7:10 -- Happ (6-2, 3.06) v. Fulmer (5-1, 3.24)
WED 7:10 -- Sanchez (5-1, 2.99) v. Boyd (0-1, 3.94)*
THU 1:10 -- Dickey (3-6, 4.21) v. Zimmermann (8-2, 2.58)
*that should be a fun matchup
Injury Report
The Tigers are a very healthy team right now, with only Warwick Saupold (who? Nice name though) on their DL. For Toronto, Tulowitzki and Cecil are still out while Josh Donaldson might be limited to DH duties for a while because of a thumb issue.
Upton At Dem!
Here's something spooky. In 2012, Melvin Upton Jr. (then B.J.) was coming off a 28 homer season with Tampa Bay, which he cashed in for a big free agent deal with the Braves. He was 27. In 2015, Justin Upton comes off a strong 26 homer season with the Padres, which he cashes in for a big megadeal with the Tigers. He was 27. Upton the Elder's OPS+ that first Atlanta year was 54. Upton the Younger's OPS+ so far in his first Detroit year is 58. Melvin Jr. has quietly turned things around somewhat in San Diego (of all places) as a fourth outfielder. A very, very expensive fourth outfielder.
Be nice to win a few.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20160606015500769