All Smyls.

Tigers 9, Royals 2

Drew Smyly (3 GS, 22 IP, 2.45 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) probably deserves top billing for his seven innings of shutout baseball in which he allowed just four baserunners, but also receiving votes was Nick Castellanos who drove in the first three runs, one on a sac fly and two on an RBI double. Cabrera did his part with some clutch baserunning (!) and Kinsler did his part to help the Royals with an impressive set of two TOOTBLANs. Hunter, Jackson, and Davis each made a fine play in the outfield and the bullpen managed to maintain the lead across the final six outs while the bats unloaded in the 9th to secure the win. The Tigers will go for the sweep on Sunday and their fifth straight win behind Justin Verlander (6 GS, 40 IP, 2.48 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.1 fWAR).

The Moment: Torii Hunter makes a diving catch that no one thought he would make.

Superb.

Tigers 8, Royals 2

It was another banner night for Rick Porcello (5 GS, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 0.7 fWAR), who scattered four hits and two runs across seven excellent innings in which he struck out six Kansas City Royals. He allowed a run on a sac fly in the first and on a solo shot in the fourth, but set down the final 12 men he faced and was never in trouble. The bats came to his aid with two in the third, three in the fourth, and three in the seventh to make this a comfortable one for Rick and the bullpen. Martinez had a three hit day and Avila swatted a two run homer to right center in the effort. The win lifts the Tigers to 15-9 and will give them a chance to take the series Saturday behind Drew Smyly (2 GS, 15 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 0.2 fWAR).

The Moment: Avila delivers a two run blast in the fourth.

Another Holaday.

Tigers 5, White Sox 1

This was one of those afternoons where the team appeared to be on cruise control. Max Scherzer (6 GS, 39 IP, 2.08 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 1.2 fWAR) was more or less automatic and the team cashed in on a four run fourth inning, punctuated by another key Bryan Holaday hit. That’s right for all of your Miguel Cabreras and Victor Martinezes, Bryan Holaday delivered the key hit in both of the games during this short series. Max allowed four hits and three walks across six innings, but also punched out seven and handed the game over to the bullpen, who somehow, someway, didn’t give away the lead. The win pushes the Tigers to 14-9 on the season ahead of a three game set with Kansas City that starts on Friday with Rick Porcello (4 GS, 25 IP, 3.96 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 0.6 fWAR) getting the call.

The Moment: Holaday doubles in a pair.

Safely squeezed in (Note: I’m so sorry for that).

Tigers 4, White Sox 3

After sitting around for more than 72 hours, the Tigers took the field behind Justin Verlander (6 GS, 40 IP, 2.48 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 1.2 fWAR) for all of about five minutes before this one was delayed by rain (after the top of the 1st), but it started moving after a 2o minute rain delay. Verlander was sharp outside of a rocky 3rd inning and coasted through much of the ballgame. Quintana put the Tigers down easily the first two times through the order, but they unleashed a parade of hits when the lineup came around the third time, tying the game at three heading into the bullpens. Joba got himself into and out of trouble in the 8th to set up a three base error that got Jackson to third. Bryan Holaday came up big and drove him in with a perfectly timed safety squezee two batters later. The win sets the Tigers up for a short series sweep Wednesday with Max Scherzer (5 GS, 33 IP, 2.45 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) getting the nod.

The Moment: Bryan Holaday drops down a go-ahead safety squeeze.

Not as bad as you’d have expected.

Twins 5, Tigers 3

The Tigers bullpen is a bit of an adventure, and Anibal Sanchez (5 GS, 23 IP, 3.13 ERA, 2.44 FIP, 0.8 fWAR) didn’t get out the third inning due to a blister, so the fact that they only lost 5-3 given that they needed 6+ innings from the bullpen is probably something on the order of a moral victory. They got a pair of runs in the 1st and one in the 9th, but a big, messy 5th inning sunk the Tigers as Ortega and Coke combined to allow four runs with another coming in the 8th. The Tigers were able to load the bases in the 8th, but Cabrera took a couple of poor swings ahead of a GIDP that ended the threat. They’ll still have  a chance to take the series behind Justin Verlander (5 GS, 33 IP, 2.18 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) on Sunday.

The Moment: Cabrera knocks one off the RF wall to plate a run in the first.

Closer than it should have been.

Tigers 10, Twins 6

Picture a baseball game in which the Tigers score 10 runs and lead by 9 runs in the 5th inning. Does that game end with the Tigers bullpen turning it into an actual competition? You bet. Rick Porcello (4 GS, 25 IP, 3.96 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) was solid through the first five innings, allowing just a single run, but let up a little in the 6th, allowing a home run and a pair of baserunners before Ausmus decided to yank him with the game so far out of reach. The bullpen surrendered his runners and two more of their own, but thankfully, the Tigers bats had provided a pretty sizable cushion. Castellanos got things going with a two run, opposite field bomb in the second and then almost everyone got involved in a seven run 3rd inning. Everyone except Miguel Cabrera, who actually made all three outs in the inning. That’s right, the Tigers had a seven run inning in which Cabrera made three outs. The game started out like a laugher and turned into a reasonably close one because the bullpen isn’t very good, but the huge offensive explosion carried the day. The Tigers will look to take the series on Saturday with Anibal Sanchez (4 GS, 20 ⅓ IP, 3.54 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 0.7 fWAR) toeing the rubber.

The Moment: Castellanos homers to right field, and then everyone else gets involved in the 3rd.

Comfortable enough.

Tigers 7, White Sox 4

The Tigers started the day needing a win to split the series and called on Max Scherzer (5 GS, 33 IP, 2.45 ERA, 2.66 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) to make that happen. Max gave up the obligatory second inning home run, but cruised the rest of the way, giving up two runs over six innings to go along with 10 strikeouts and a walk. The Tigers scored their runs on a pair of RBI singles from Cabrera, an RBI single from Castellanos and Holaday, and a bomb and double from Rajai Davis. The bullpen tried to give it back, like the bullpen tends to do, but they eventually shut the door with one of my favorite plays – a runner being called out because the batter interfered with a throw. The team will head to Minnesota tomorrow with Rick Porcello (3 GS, 20 IP, 3.15 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) getting the ball in game one.

The Moment: The game ends on the ol’ strike-em-out, batter interference-em-out.

One that got away.

White Sox 6, Tigers 4

Drew Smyly (2 GS, 15 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) didn’t start on the right foot, but after a two run first inning, he settled in nicely and gave the Tigers six solid innings in which he allowed six hits, a walk, and struck out seven. The bats came to his defense in the fourth as JD Martinez knocked in a pair and Jackson followed with a bomb to left center to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead. You can probably imagine, however, that things didn’t stay cozy, as Evan Reed and Ian Krol combined to load the bases and allow a grand slam that flipped the script and left the Tigers with a two run deficit of their own. Justin Miller got them to the ninth with two scoreless but the bats couldn’t complete the rally and the Tigers dropped their second game of the series. Max Scherzer (4 GS, 27 IP, 2.33 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 0.8 fWAR) will get the nod Thursday afternoon looking for the split.

The Moment: Smyly starts a 1-5 double play.

Everything you wanted to see, if you didn’t watch the 9th.

Tigers 8, White Sox 6

Everything came up Tigers on Tuesday night as Justin Verlander (5 GS, 33 IP, 2.18 ERA, 2.89 FIP 0.9 fWAR) cruised after a first inning blast by Jose Abreu and the bats came alive in the in the third inning when they hung a five spot on the White Sox’s fill in starter. Cabrera found his stroke with a double and a bomb in his first two at bats, but they also had big contributions from Davis, Kinsler, and Avila as they ran away and hid, that is, until the bullpen gave up four runs just for fun. The big nights from Avila and Cabrera were most encouraging for the potentially concerned fan, but another fine start from Verlander should take center stage. After all of the concern last year, his last 14 starts, including the postseason have been incredible.

Drew Smyly (1 GS, 9 IP, 4.00 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 0.1 fWAR) will get the ball on Wednesday.

The Moment: Cabrera launches a two run homer to right.

Great, if you removed one half inning.

White Sox 3, Tigers 1

This one was moving along at a pretty nice clip, with the only run of the game coming on an Avila RBI ground out, but then the seventh inning came along and messed everything up. Anibal Sanchez (4 GS, 20 ⅓ IP, 3.10 ERA, 2.24 FIP, 0.7 fWAR) cruised until that inning, where he allowed three doubles and a single to surrender three runs (two earned), ending his night after 6 ⅓ innings, 5 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. The Tigers would muster a couple of baserunners after that, but couldn’t pull any closer as they fell to the Sox.  Justin Verlander (4 GS, 26 IP, 2.08 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 0.8 fWAR) will get the ball in game two on Tuesday, and boy is he on some kind of roll.

The Moment: Martinez hooks a double down the left field line.