Uninspired.

Twins 2, Tigers 0

Drew Smyly (10 GS, 60.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) didn’t look like he was going to have a great night early on, but he managed to hold the Twins to one run in six innings of work, giving the Tigers a very good opportunity to win the opener. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to generate any offense on Friday night. They had a couple of threats, but could not deliver especially in the 5th inning when Ausmus took the bat out of Kinsler’s hands and watched a budding rally crumble during the next two at bats. It was a poor choice, but failing to score at all against Kyle Gibson isn’t solely on the manager. Joe Nathan came in for the 9th to get some work and it wasn’t exactly an impressive tune-up, as he loaded the bases and walked in a run before getting yanked for Phil Coke who escaped the jam. The Tigers could not come back against Perkins despite a Castellanos double and fell to 34-29 on the season. It’ll be Anibal Sanchez (10 GS, 56.1 IP, 2.24 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) tomorrow afternoon.

The Moment: Phil Coke keeps things from getting worse in the 9th.

Complete.

Tigers 4, White Sox 0

On most nights, I set you up with the pitching line, how the runs were scored, and any interesting plays. This one is easy. Max Scherzer (14 GS, 94.1 IP, 3.05 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 2.3 fWAR) went the distance for the first time in his career, delivering a three hit shutout with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. It wasn’t the best stuff we’ve ever seen from Max, but after 178 starts and no complete games (an MLB record), he finally finished what he started. Victor Martinez went yard early. Chris Sale was awesome and his team gave him nothing in the way of support. After Sale left the game, it was pretty uneventful. You know, just your average Miguel Cabrera two run infield single to add a pair of insurance runs. The night belonged to Max, as he helped the Tigers escape the sweep and the team will head home to face the Twins with Anibal Sanchez (10 GS, 56.1 IP, 2.24 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) grabbing the ball in game one.

The Moment: Max Scherzer gets out the first and last out of a game for the first time in his career.

[rolls eyes].

White Sox 8, Tigers 2

Well, shoot. This looked so promising during the first five innings. The Sox got their only run off Justin Verlander (14 GS, 91.2 IP, 4.61 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) on a Jose Abreau homer and the Tigers pushed one across courtesy of Miguel Cabrera’s baserunning and this one was hurdling toward a duel. Verlander’s stuff was better than we’ve seen this year with plenty of velocity and swinging strikes, but things unraveled in the 6th when he gave up some not-terribly well hit balls for hits and Ausmus left him in at least one batter too long, if not two batters too long because he failed to properly prepare the bullpen. Verlander lost it a little, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as 7 runs in 5.2 innings appears. This felt like a turning point and then it didn’t. Alas. They’ll try to save one behind Max Scherzer (13 GS, 85.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.9 fWAR) against Chris Sale on Thursday.

The Moment: Castellanos guns down Eaton at the plate in the 5th.

Defenseless.

White Sox 6, Tigers 5

If you like home runs, you’d probably have enjoyed this one as the Sox and Tigers hit four between them. Rick Porcello (12 GS, 75.2 IP, 4.04 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.1 fWAR) gave up one, a key one to Jose Abreu, during his five inning start that left something to be desired. Porcello had several good moments, but made a few mistake pitches amid a cavalcade of poor defensive plays that ultimately sunk the ship. He struck out four and walked one, but allowed six runs along the way. If you like bad defense in the outfield, this was also a game for you as they just kept making mistakes. For the Tigers’ part, Cabrera, Suarez, and VMart all went deep in this one and kept it interesting into the late innings to set up Jackson reaching on a terrible play and Avila knocking him in on a slightly misjudged play at the wall. They pulled within a run but could not complete the rally. The two clubs will spin back around on Tuesday for the second game of the series with Justin Verlander (13 GS, 86 IP, 4.19 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) taking the hill.

The Moment: Martinez homers to right to bring the Tigers within one.

Deflating.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

Anibal Sanchez (10 GS, 56.1 IP, 2.24 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) looked a lot like Anibal Sanchez, the Red Sox were just smart enough to foul off as many pitches as they could to chase him out of the game after six innings. Sanchez punched out seven during those six innings and allowed two runs, one on his first home run allowed since last October. It wasn’t his best start of the year, but it was quite good and he left the Tigers in a position to take the game. It was 2-2 in the 7th when Nick and Austin reached to set up the newcomer Eugenio Suarez’s RBI single to left that would prove to be just a tease. Ausmus rode Phil Coke entirely too long in relief, but somehow lived to tell the tale as Coke escaped two jams. It would be Joba for the 9th and all he did was set Ortiz up to hit a go-ahead blast. The Tigers took the series, but failed to complete a sweep that was very much in reach and will try to get it going Monday night in Chicago with Rick Porcello (11 GS, 70.2 IP, 3.69 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) on the bump.

The Moment: Suarez puts the Tigers ahead in the 7th!

Youthful.

Tigers 8, Red Sox 6

After this game, the Tigers might be looking into a move to the AL East. Max Scherzer (13 GS, 85.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.9 fWAR) struck out nine and walked only one, but he was hit around a little bit over 6.2 innings and allowed four runs. It wasn’t his best outing, but the bats had him covered as they assaulted the Red Sox all evening. They got a pair in the 1st when Cabrera, Martinez, and Hunter had back-to-back-to-back hits and followed it with a run in the 2nd and a Castellanos bomb in the 3rd. Suarez chimed in with his first career hit and home run in the 4th, they added two more in the 6th, and another in the 7th. The bullpen held the line for 2.1 innings and the Tigers won their second in a row. Well, the bullpen didn’t allow the tying running, at least. Nathan gave up two runs, but you have to build that into your expectations. They’ll make a run at their second sweep of the Sox this year on Sunday night with the man, Anibal Sanchez (9 GS, 50.1 IP, 2.15 ERA, 2.14 FIP, 1.8 fWAR), taking the ball.

The Moment: Suarez homers for his first MLB hit.

Entirely pleasant. 

Tigers 6, Red Sox 2

If I were to tell you that the Tigers won on a Friday night against the Red Sox in a game started by Drew Smyly (9 GS, 54 ⅓ IP, 3.81 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) in early June, you’d probably be ecstatic. The Tigers beat a great team with their worst pitcher! Well, let’s leave aside the context of this game and the seventeen games it followed and simply enjoy the performance. Smyly got off to a rough start, allowing two hard hits that lead to a run in the first, but got on track in a hurry, allowing just another run in six innings with four strikeouts and one walk to boot. The bats also contributed with a run in the third and fourth and two solo shots in the fifth (Kinsler/Hunter) and another in the 8th (VMart) to go with a sac fly. They also turned it over to the bullpen for the final three and didn’t surrender a run! A clear win! Add on runs! Hooray! They’ll look to take the series with Max Scherzer (12 GS, 78 ⅔ IP, 3.20 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) on Saturday night.

The Moment: Bryan Holaday tripled!

Welp.

Blue Jays 7, Tigers 3

On it’s own, losing to a hard-hitting Jays team on a Thursday afternoon wouldn’t upset you too much. Losing three straight to them? Losing a whole bunch over the last three weeks? That will start to wear you down a bit. Justin Verlander (13 GS, 86 IP, 4.19 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) had some good moments but also allowed six runs in seven innings while walking as many as he struck out, four, and surrendering two home runs. Granted, there was an inexcusable error which opened the door during the first Jays’ rally, but the second rally felt like the killer. The bats got moving first, with two runs in the third inning, but the Tigers struggled to break through during the rest of the game, scoring just another single run, and careened toward a sweep. At some point, things will turn around, but so far, we’ve had no such luck. Drew Smyly (8 GS, 48.1 IP 4.10 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 0.3 fWAR) will get the assignment on Friday against the Red Sox.

The Moment: Kinsler triples in Nick in the third.

Blech…

Blue Jays 8, Tigers 2

It was another fine start for Rick Porcello (11 GS, 70.2 IP, 3.69 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) who allowed a home run to the second batter of the game and didn’t get into any trouble again until he allowed a two run double in the 6th. He was getting easy outs all night in between and got four outs after the double to finish with 7 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts against a very strong Blue Jays lineup. He had some help from Cabrera and Kinsler who each launched solo shots, but the Tigers failed to capitalize on two bases loaded scoring chances and the Blue Jays added on against the pen with some magnitude.The Tigers will work to avoid the sweep on Thursday with Justin Verlander (12 GS, 79 IP, 3.99 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.7 fWAR) taking the ball.

The Moment: Cabrera swats a no doubt bomb in the first.

[expletive].

Blue Jays 5, Tigers 3

Anibal Sanchez (9 GS, 50.1 IP, 2.15 ERA, 2.14 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) is just the best. He doesn’t have the public relations staff that Verlander or Scherzer do, but man is he fantastic. He took on one of the best offenses in baseball and twirled a no-stress 7 IP, 2H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K ballgame. He allowed two baserunners and didn’t get one past second all night long in another truly impressive performance. Unfortunately, Hutchison was equal to the task and sent this one hurdling toward the bullpens nodded at zero. Joba did his job in the 8th, but Ausmus went to Nathan in the 9th despite a short inning for the former and Nathan did Nathan things. Walk, single, pop out, single, and walk. Ausmus went to the pen again and Krol got a sac fly, which set up a three run bomb against Alburquerque to make it 5-0. The Tigers gave it a go in the 9th, scoring three on a JD Martinez long ball but they could not tie it up. It’ll be Rick Porcello (10 GS, 63.2 IP, 3.82 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 0.9 fWAR) going Wednesday looking to even the series.

The Moment: Cabrera cuts the lead runner down at 3rd to quiet a potential rally.