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.

Quiet.

Mariners 4, Tigers 0

After a grueling stretch, the Tigers concluded their seven game trip with lackluster attack behind Max Scherzer (12 GS, 78.2 IP, 3.20 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) who performed ably in 6.2 innings. Max allowed four runs, but didn’t issue any free passes and struck out 7. He looked strong at times but mixed in enough mistake pitches to surrender a collection of runs. It wouldn’t matter much how good or bad Scherzer was as the bats were very quiet against Elias throughout the ballgame. The club registered just three hits and a walk across nine innings and coasted to  series defeat. The Tigers will enjoy the day off tomorrow and start back up at home against the Blue Jays with Anibal Sanchez (8 GS, 43.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) taking the ball Tuesday.

The Moment: Scherzer punishes Saunders with a four pitch strikeout.

Safeco’d.

Mariners 3, Tigers 2

It was a short night for Drew Smyly (8 GS, 48.1 IP, 4.10 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 0.3 fWAR), but the bullpen had his back and held the Mariners at bay. Smyly went 4 and allowed three runs, but his command was rough even though he didn’t walk very many. Cabrera hit another big time home run and the Tigers punched another one through on a wild pitch to Castellanos that scored Jackson. They put some good swings on the ball in the 7th and 8th before the ball died on the track, but the real threat came in the 9th. Avila walked and Kelly singled, but Romine failed to get a bunt down and Davis struck out to set up Kinsler. With the game on the line, Kinsler bounced out and set up a rubber match Sunday with Max Scherzer (11 GS, 72 IP, 3.00 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) toeing the rubber.

The Moment: Cabrera hits a huge home run to left.

Redeeming.

Tigers 6, Mariners 3

Justin Verlander (12 GS, 79 IP, 3.99 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) was the story entering this game and he was able to do enough to calm the crashing waves. Verlander was much more efficient and kept the hard contact to a minimum as he went 7.2 innings, allowed five hits, a walk, three runs, and struck out seven. He had better velocity than he had in recent starts and looked much less lost out there on the mound. We knew he’d get better than he had been for the last couple of weeks and he did so in a hurry. It wasn’t classic Verlander, but it was more than enough. The offense played Tigers baseball on Friday and did the rest. Cabrera hit a majestic home run to left in the 3rd and Davis his one in the 7th, but it was the one in the middle that really counted. With a man on second and two outs in the 5th, the Mariners decided to walk Cabrera to face Martinez, and a ten pitch at bat later, Martinez made them pay with a no doubt blast to right. Walking Cabrera might have seemed reasonable with a base open, but on average, that move will cost the Marines .23 runs, and boy did it ever. They gave away the platoon advantage and a free base for the right to pitch to a great hitter without the possibility of a double play and it bit them. The Tigers would take it, however, and marched on to their 31st win of the season. They will look to take the series with Drew Smyly (7 GS, 44.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) on the bump Saturday.

The Moment: VMart stays alive by fouling pitches off and goes yard to put the Tigers ahead.

An escape.

Tigers 5, A’s 4

Rick Porcello (10 GS, 63 ⅔ IP, 3.82 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) didn’t have a typical Porcello day. Sure he only allowed 2 runs in 5.2 innings, which fits the mold, but he walked six and hit one, which is very much not his style. The stuff was pretty good, but seemingly every pitch that needed to be a strike end up out of the zone. Luckily, some good fortune kept the runs at bay and the bays delivered. They scored one in the first, two in the fifth, and two in the seventh to support the effort from a variety of sources and they needed each, as Nathan allowed a pair in the 9th to make it too interesting. The win, when you think about it, actually earned them a split, even if it felt like they lose twelve times on Wednesday. They’ll take a clean slate to Seattle behind Justin Verlander (11 GS. 71 ⅓ IP, 4.04 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) on Friday.

The Moment: Martinez adds some insurance with a two run double.

Maybe the year’s best.

A’s 3, Tigers 1

Anibal Sanchez (8 GS, 43.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 2.20 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) didn’t officially do it all on his own, but he needed very little help. A Torii Hunter blast and some defense from Rajai Davis was pretty much all he required to slay the A’s on Wednesday night, but the last two outs changed everything. Sanchez was classic Sanchez working all four pitches and dialing up above 95 mph more than a dozen times in 8.1 innings. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out 9 en route to what was almost a beautifully played 1-0 win in Oakland. If you missed this one, it is definitely one to go back and take in as it was one of the best games of the year thanks to Sanchez and his counterpart, Scott Kazmir who was also very strong. Great pitching, solid defense, and a snappy pace. Then of course, the only reliever came in and ruined everything. After a misplay from Castellanos put runners on the corners, Nathan allowed a no doubt blast to Donaldson to turn this from a 1-0 win to a 3-1 lost. It’ll be Rick Porcello (9 GS, 58 IP, 3.88 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 1.1 fWAR) on Thursday going for the split.

The Moment: Sanchez carves them up all night and nearly goes the distance.

Late, but great.

Tigers 6, A’s 5

Max Scherzer (11 GS, 72 IP, 3.00 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.7 fWAR) did that thing where he started poorly and then locked in. He allowed five runs, but got much better in the later innings and kept the team in the game long enough to register the tying run. The Tigers got going early in this one with Hunter, Cabrera, and both Martinezes combining for two in the first with Cabrera adding a homer, Avila knocking one in on a double, and Hunter tying it with a blast in the 7th. The tie game would not last as Davis pinch ran for Martinez who walked and advanced on a passed ball and steal before scoring on a fielder’s choice from Jackson. Joba did his job and Nathan did his with an assist from a tumbling Kinsler, sending the Tigers to a win, which was more than a sight for sore eyes. All of a sudden, the Tigers can secure a series split with Anibal Sanchez (7 GS, 35 IP, 2.83 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 1.1 fWAR) going Wednesday.

The Moment: Davis swipes third on a throw back to the pitcher.

[redacted].

A’s 10, Tigers 0

I mean I know that the streak will end and the Tigers will bounce back, but it hasn’t been a lot of fun to watch the last couple of days, and if you know me, that’s saying something. Drew Smyly (7 GS, 44.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) gave up four bombs and a couple extra runs in 5 innings and fought through foul ball after foul ball. Six runs seemed doable, considering some of the recent deficits, but the offense had just about nothing throughout the afternoon and then Phil Coke’s inning got away. Nick Castellanos provided some enjoyment, walking twice and registering his fourth and fifth walks in the last three games which were more walks than he had in his career prior. Corey Knebel also had two solid innings. At some point, the pain will end. Perhaps Max Scherzer (10 GS, 66 IP, 2.59 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 1.7 fWAR) will make it happen tomorrow night.

The Moment: Nick walks twice!

Ugh…again.

Rangers 12, Tigers 4

It’s been a bad week with the Tigers going 1-6, losing in dramatic and blowout fashion, with today’s game being an example of the latter. Justin Verlander (11 GS, 71.1 IP, 4.04 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) had one of the worst outings of his career during one of his worst stretches, allowing nine runs in 5.1 innings while striking out one and walking three. The contact was good and the bounces didn’t go his way. It’s probably time to worry about him a little bit, even if worrying about him means he’s throwing like  a back end starter rather than a front end one. The bats couldn’t get enough going despite a couple runs early and a couple of runs late, allowing the game to coast to an underwhelming end which included a hamstring issue that led to Cabrera coming out of the game and an ankle issue that took Joba. A long flight to Oakland will set up Drew Smyly (6 GS, 39.1 IP, 2.97 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 0.6 fWAR) on Monday.

The Moment: Nick walks twice!