Detroit Tigers (37-51) vs. Kansas City Royals (34-53)
When: 2:10 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates).
First-pitch forecast: Low-90s, mostly clear.
Probable pitchers: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (6-7, 3.99 ERA) vs Royals RHP Brady Singer (3-3, 4.25 ERA).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Miguel Cabrera steals base in 7-5 win over Royals to snap four-game skid
Lineup: TBA.
Game notes: The Tigers finish their four-game set behind Tarik Skubal, who looked like an All-Star two months in, but has cooled considerably since the beginning of June. He had a5.85 ERA across six starts last month. He struggled again vs. these Royals to start the season but bounced back with a two-run, seven-strikeout performance vs. the Chicago White Sox. The hard throwing lefty was much better against the Royals in May, going 5 2/3 innings allowing one run, which was unearned, and striking out seven.
[ Back with Tigers, Akil Baddoo is determined to focus on ‘playing my game’ ]
Singer has started eight times vs. the Tigers (only the Minnesota Twins, nine starts, have seen him more) and fared well. He’s 4-0 with a 2.98 ERA and his 9.6 strikeouts per nine are higher than his career average (8.9). But with Singer on the mound, it’s all the more likely that recently called-up Akil Baddoo will be in the lineup — the outfielder has hit .571 with three RBIs in seven at-bats against Singer. Robbie Grossman, on the other hand, is hitless in 10 ABs, yet has an RBI, against the 6-foot-5 right-hander. Harold Castro is hitting .462 in 13 such ABs; that number isn’t as lucky for Willi Castro (.231 with a home run) and Jeimer Candelario (.231), who have a baker’s dozen’s worth of at-bats against Singer.
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