Series Preview: Detroit Tigers return home for 3 against Tampa Bay Rays this week

Bless You Boys

The Detroit Tigers return home after a road trip that saw them sweep the Kansas City Royals and take two of three from the Baltimore Orioles, keeping them in the thick of the chase for the final American League wild card spot.

AJ Hinches squad now welcomes the Tampa Bay Rays — a team that faded from playoff contention in the second half — to Comerica Park this week for the penultimate series of the 2024 regular season. With just six games remaining, every single win counts.

Coming into the series, the Motor City Kitties are now third in the AL Central and firmly in place for the last wild card spot with a one-game lead over the Minnesota Twins, who have also been fading these past few weeks.

TBD rides the bench this week for Detroit as all three Tigers starters were announced prior to the start of the series. Take a look below at the upcoming pitching matchups.

Detroit Tigers (82-74) vs Tampa Bay Rays (78-78)

Times (ET): Tues: 1:10 p.m.; Wed: 6:10 p.m.; Thurs: 1:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: DRaysBay
Media: Bally Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 157 Pitching Matchup

Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Skubal 185.0 30.3 4.7 2.48 5.6
Pepiot 121.0 26.3 8.4 4.04 1.6

Game 157: LHP Tarik Skubal (17-4, 2.48 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.64 ERA)

Skubal

Baseball Savant

Pepiot

Baseball Savant

Game 158 Pitching Matchup

Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Montero 92.2 19.1 7.3 5.12 0.1
Littell 151.2 21.1 4.9 3.91 2.2

Game 158: RHP Keider Montero (6-6, 4.86 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Littell (8-9, 3.56 ERA)

Montero

Baseball Savant

Littell

Baseball Savant

Game 159 Pitching Matchup

Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Player IP K% BB% FIP fWAR
Olson 108.1 21.8 7.3 3.22 2.3
TBD

Game 159: RHP Reese Olson (4-8, 3.49 ERA). vs. TBD

Baseball Savant

Series Outlook: Almost there…

Once again, it’s a must-win (and preferably must-sweep) series for Detroit and Tampa Bay should not cause too much trouble for the Tigers.

The Rays are 26th in OPS (.674) and 29th in runs scored against the Olde English D at 22nd (.686) and 18th (660), respectively, on offense. On the flip side, the visitors are ninth in the majors in ERA (3.79), fourth in WHIP (1.21) and tied for seventh in batting average against (.236), while the home team is third (3.64), second (1.17) and sixth (.235), respectively.

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