Detroit Tigers lineup vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Javier Báez scratched because of death in family

Detroit Tigers (48-61) vs Tampa Bay Rays (67-45)

When: 1:10 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.

TV: Bally Sports Detroit.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 in Detroit; Tigers radio affiliates).

Probable pitchers: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (1-1, 4.57 ERA) vs. Rays RHP Aaron Civale (5-2, 2.34).

• Box score

Tigers lineup:

3B Matt Vierling
CF Riley Greene
1B Spencer Torkelson
RF Kerry Carpenter
DH Miguel Cabrera
LF Akil Baddoo
SS Javier Báez
2B Zack Short
C Jake Rogers

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Game notes: Right-hander Aaron Civale makes his Tampa Bay debut after coming over at the trade deadline (in exchange for MLB Pipeline No. 37 overall prospect Kyle Manzardo — funny how that works). But the former Cleveland right-hander brings plenty of experience against the Tigers, with a career 2.06 ERA and 7-0 record against Detroit in 65⅔ innings over 10 starts. That ERA is the third-lowest of any active MLB pitcher with at least 10 starts against the Tigers, behind only Gerrit Cole (1.94) and Mike Clevinger (1.63).

We’d argue that’s not as dire as it seems, with Civale only racking up 53 strikeouts of the Tigers, but his most recent start against Detroit was his best yet: On Aug. 15, 2022, Civale struck out 10 in just six innings while holding the Tigers to three hits, one walk and one run. Miguel Cabrera was particularly victimized, whiffing twice in two at-bats against Civale. (He added a third whiff later in the game.)

For the Tigers, Tarik Skubal (who’s making his sixth start of the season) hasn’t been quite as sharp against the Rays — but he’s close. In two September 2021 starts — each lasting three innings, as Skubal was on a load-management plan — he struck out eight over six innings while allowing just four hits and one walk. Two of those four hits belong to Rays All-Star Randy Arozarena; they were both singles, and Arozarena also has a strikeout vs. Skubal. Tampa Bay DH Harold Ramírez is 1-for-2 in his career against Skubal, lacing a double off the lefty while playing for Cleveland on May 25, 2021.

After today’s matinee, the Tigers and Rays wrap up the series at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, with power righty Tyler Glasnow taking the mound for the Rays and righty Matt Manning climbing the hill for the Tigers. Detroit wont get much rest, as AL Central-leading (yes, still, somehow) Minnesota comes to town for a four-game set — their final visit to Detroit of the season.

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