Detroit Tigers (22-33) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (33-23)
When: 7:10 p.m. Friday.
Where: Comerica Park.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates).
First-pitch forecast: Low-70s, chance of rain.
Probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Elvin Rodriguez (0-1, 10.13 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (4-2, 5.24 ERA).
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Tigers lineup: TBA.
Game notes: The Tigers had an off day Thursday after sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pennsylvania. Pitching was key, with Detroit allowing just four runs in the two-game series. Toronto (seventh in in MLB in home runs, 16th in runs) presents a bigger challenge than Pittsburgh (23rd in homers, 28th in runs), though.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (13 home runs and 30 RBIs) is still clobbering baseballs, often with Bo Bichette (14 doubles among a team-high 61 hits) and George Springer on base — provided Springer, who has 11 homers, hasn’t already rounded the bases leading off the game. Add in Lourdes Gurriel, Matt Chapman and 19 homers combined by three catchers (including an All-Star-esque campaign in the works for Alejandro Kirk) and you realize Rodriguez will have his work cut out for him.
Despite his seasons with the Minnesota Twins, many of the Tigers have seen little of Berrios (5-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Tigers). (Hittin’) Harold Castro has some luck with a .545 batting average in 11 at-bats vs. Berrios, but Miguel Cabrera and Jonathan Schoop have struggled, hitting .167 in 18 at-bats and .143 in 21 at-bats, respectively. This season is on pace to be Berrios’ worst, outside of an ugly rookie year, thanks to opponents’ .279 batting average and .811 slugging percentage as well as a decreased strikeout rate (7.8 per 9 innings, down from his career average of 9.0 per 9 innings).
The series finishes with a 4:10 p.m. start Saturday and a 1:40 p.m. start Sunday. (Though the team will have a ceremony honoring Miguel Cabrera before Sunday’s game.)
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Follow the Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.
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