How Was The Game? (August 29, 2014)
Comfortable.
Tigers 7, White Sox 1
The first inning was a little dicey and then, Justin Verlander (27 GS, 171.1 IP, 4.68 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 2.5 fWAR) sort of started to look like Justin Verlander again. It wasn’t perfect, but he twirled seven innings of one run ball that featured eight strikeouts and two walks. For 2014 Verlander, that’s a gem. The pitches were better as well for most of the game and he showed some signs of life while also getting positive results. Not a terrifying opponent, but a good outing none the less. The story of the offense tonight was a chaotic and glorious 4th inning in which the Sox made two errors that opened the door to five runs. It was a collective effort all around and the Tigers set themselves up nicely going into the big Saturday duel between Max Scherzer (27 GS, 181 IP, 3.13 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 4.8 fWAR) and Chris Sale in Game One.
The Moment: Kinsler and Hunter connect on a perfect relay in the 2nd.
How Was The Game? (August 28, 2014)
A nice recovery
Tigers 2, Yankees 2
Kyle Lobstein (1 GS, 11.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 0.1 fWAR) gave the Tigers a much needed quality outing, going six innings while allowing two runs on four hits and a walk as he gave the Tigers a chance to stay in the game. The teams traded runs in the 2nd and 3rd and then the Yankees took the lead in the 4th before the Tigers got one right back in the 5th. From there they went scoreless into the 9th. Coke found himself in a jam and almost lost it before McCann’s fly ball hooked fouled and he followed up by striking him out to end the inning. The Tigers put two on to start the 9th and then with two outs Avila slammed one off the fence to win it. The team will call on Justin Verlander (26 GS, 164.1 IP, 4.82 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 2.2 fWAR) on Friday.
The Moment: Avila walks off with two outs in the 9th!
How Was The Game? (August 27, 2014)
Surprising.
Yankees 8, Tigers 4
David Price (28 GS, 203.1 IP, 3.32 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 4.7 fWAR) had one of the worst starts in MLB history tonight if you care about innings, hits, and runs. Only two other pitchers in history have failed to go more than two innings while allowing at least 8 runs and 12 hits as Price did on this night. He allowed nine straight hits to start the third inning and was pulled from the game after 68 pitches. Some hard contact, some BABIP. No fun. The bats gave it a little go with a bomb from VMart and a triple from Nick to go along with a little two out rally in the 9th, but it was nowhere near enough to close the gap. The Tigers will have a shot to win the series behind Kyle Lobstein (0 GS, 5.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 0.0 fWAR) who will make his first MLB start on Thursday.
The Moment: VMart hits his career high 26th HR.
How Was The Game? (August 26, 2014)
As it should be.
Tigers 5, Yankees 2
Tuesday afternoon the Tigers got some rough news about Anibal Sanchez. Tuesday night they looked like the team the were expected to be when the season began. Rick Porcello (25 GS, 173.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 2.8 fWAR) did that thing where he gets a crazy number of ground balls and the infielders turn them into outs and only screwed up to the tune of two Jacoby Ellsbury home runs. Otherwise, it was eight relatively easy innings of work for the Tigers young star. The Tigers got a run on a bases loaded walk in the second, got a single run in the third, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh. Kinsler made a nifty defensive play and Cabrera started a nice 3-6-3 to push this one into the 9th inning where we got good Joe Nathan. David Price (27 GS, 201.1 IP, 3.00 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 4.6 fWAR) for the series on Wednesday night.
The Moment: Castellanos adds insurance with a single in the 6th.
How Was The Game? (August 24, 2014)
Plenty comfortable.
Tigers 13, Twins 4
After a rough start to the weekend, the Tigers returned the favor. Max Scherzer (27 GS, 181 IP, 3.13 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 4.8 fWAR) wasn’t great, as he labored through five while allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk. It wasn’t his best, but it was plenty good enough to support the Tigers offensive assault on the Twins. They scored three in the 3rd and then starting in the 5th they scored multiple runs in just about every inning. The bullpen didn’t melt down and everyone did their share. Without Cabrera and with a taxed pen, the rest of the crew shouldered the load. After a day off, it’s Rick Porcello (24 GS, 165.1 IP, 3.10 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 2.9 fWAR) against the Yankees in Detroit.
The Moment: Davis puts it out of reach with a bomb.
How Was The Game? (August 23, 2014 – Game 2)
What felt like an exorcism.
Tigers 8, Twins 6
After back to back disasters, the Tigers turned to Justin Verlander (26 GS, 164.1 IP, 4.82 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 2.3 fWAR) to turn things around and show that he is healthy. While Verlander didn’t look great, he also didn’t allow a thousand runs in the second inning, which was a big improvement over the other starters in this series. He allowed four runs in 5.2 innings, but keeping it from turning into a joke was all the Tigers would need. They got single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th ahead of a two runs 6th, two run 7th, and an insurance run in the 8th. Blaine Hardy and Joba did their thing to keep the lead intact and Joe Nathan didn’t give it away. Despite the earlier horrors, the Tigers can split behind Max Scherzer (26 GS, 176 IP, 3.07 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 4.7 fWAR) on Sunday.
The Moment: Suarez singles to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead in the 6th.
How Was The Game? (August 23, 2014 – Game 1)
Less awful?
Twins 12, Tigers 4
Well, folks. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This wasn’t pleasant. Buck Farmer (2 GS, 6.1 IP, 15.63 ERA, 5.34 FIP, 0.0 fWAR) got rocked and the offense wasn’t able to meet the herculean task of overcoming it. Kyle Lobstein made his MLB debut in relief, and while he wasn’t great or anything, he ate innings like he was starving, which means the Tigers bullpen will be plenty rested to support Justin Verlander (25 GS, 158.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 2.0 fWAR) in game two of the series. Eh, let’s just not talk about this one and pretend it was some type of weird scrimmage.
The Moment: No one got hurt?
How Was The Game? (August 22, 2014)
A cluster****.
Twins 20, Tigers 6
Okay. So listen. Robbie Ray (6 GS, 26.2 IP, 7.09 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) was awful and had his worst starter as a big leaguer and somehow wasn’t close to being involved in this game’s biggest disaster. Ray gave up six runs and didn’t make it out of the second inning, but the bullpen and defense put together a 9 run bottom of the 6th which featured six walks, two errors, and fifteen batters. I’ve seen thousands of baseball games in my life and I’m not sure I can remember a bigger single inning meltdown. Of course, that’s because the healthy response is to block those innings out. At least my brain won’t let me remember this. As an apology, the Andrew Romine pitched and Avila played 1B! That was fun at least. Buck Farmer (1 GS, 5 IP, 7.20 ERA, 5.33 FIP, 0.0 fWAR) and Justin Verlander (25 GS, 158.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 2.1 fWAR) are lined up for tomorrow.
The Moment: Romine pitched! It was bad, but he’s a position player!
How Was The Game? (August 21, 2014)
A dandy.
Rays 1, Tigers 0
I’m going to be honest, for the first time all season, I only saw bits and pieces of this one because of “learning.” David Price (27 GS, 201.1 IP, 3.00 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 4.7 fWAR) was excellent, allowing just a single run in 8 innings while walking none, allowing a single hit, and punching out nine. He retired the last 23 men he faced. Unfortunately, the Tigers bats couldn’t get to Cobb, who was excellent in his own right. The Tigers threatened late, sort of, but didn’t not complete the rally. Sounds like the middle innings I missed would have been fun. Oh well. Robbie Ray (5 GS, 25.1 IP, 5.33 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) heads to Minnesota Friday.
The Moment: Price dazzles in a CG loss.
How Was The Game? (August 20, 2014)
Rick Porcello Night in America.
Tigers 6, Rays 0
Would you believe that a massive VMart grand slam isn’t the focus of this recap? Sure you can, you’re not an idiot. You’ve been here before. We’re all about Rick Porcello (24 GS, 165.1 IP, 3.10 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 2.9 fWAR) here. Sure VMart had a day, but Porcello allowed a double to the second batter he faced and then retired 20 straight Rays pretty easily. He had them frozen and he had them pounding the ball into the turf pretty much at will. The pitch count was low and he was chasing a Maddux all night long. He gave up a hit in the 8th, but went to the 9th at 93 pitches needing a quick inning to lock in his second Maddux of the season. He didn’t get there, but he grabbed his MLB-tied-for-the-lead third shutout of the year in convincing fashion. Never in doubt. The Tigers will look to sweep as David Price (26 GS, 193.1 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 4.2 fWAR) returns to his old stomping grounds.
The Moment: Porcello caps off the shutout.
New English D 