Detroit Tigers (8-4) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (6-8)
First Pitch: 7:10 EST
Stadium: Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay
Weather: Dome
Media: Fox Sports Detroit / 97.1 The Ticket
Tigers lineup:
- Ian Kinsler (2B)
- Nicholas Castellanos (3B)
- Miguel Cabrera (1B)
- Victor Martinez (DH)
- Justin Upton (LF)
- Tyler Collins (RF)
- Alex Avila (C)
- JaCoby Jones (CF)
- Jose Iglesias (SS)
Pitching matchup:
Michael Fulmer (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Matt Andriese (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
What to watch for:
The Tigers have been relying on the long ball in their first 12 games. In fact, they have homered in each of those 12 games, tying the 2007 Tampa Bay Rays. Look for them to extend that trend tonight, homering in 13 straight to start the season.
Victor Martinez is still without an extra-base hit on the season, and most of the production in the power department has come from the bottom of the lineup, a good sign of things to come (hopefully) for the rest of the season.
That's home runs in 12 straight game for your Tigers. First to do it since 2007 Devil Rays
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) April 16, 2017
Michael Fulmer is off to a great start in the 2017 campaign, 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Building off his Rookie of the Year season last year, he is maximizing every opportunity thus far. Last outing he got into a bit of trouble with a high pitch count through three innings, then battled through three more — putting himself in line for the win. Be watching for him to fix the mistakes from last week and try to work much deeper into the game tonight as the bullpen was taxed (and not very good) during the last series with the Indians.
Looking Back:
The Detroit Tigers have been playing good baseball. Having won three-straight series to open up the 2017 campaign, they have beaten the likes of the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and the Cleveland Indians. There is no doubt about it that they are winning and not just winning, but beating good teams. They have done it on the backs of their starting pitching and the long ball. Look for both of those trends to continue this week.
Before You Watch:
ROY Michael Fulmer embodies the city of Detroit with blue collar offseason
Andrew Romine “randomly” selected for drug test following first career grand-slam
This post first appeared on Detroit Sports Nation | Giving The Fans A Voice, please read the originial post: here
