The Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels will continue a four-game series when they clash at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday night. After splitting the first two contests in this set, the Tigers are now 4-1 in their last five overall. Los Angeles is five games over .300 despite a current 2-5 stretch.
Luis Valbuena and former Tiger Ian Kinsler ended significant dry spells in Monday’s 9-2 romp over Detroit, as the former snapped an 0-for-21 drought with an RBI single and a pair of homers while the latter entered the tilt mired in a 2-for-31 stretch before launching a three-run shot. Valbuena and Kinsler joined Albert Pujols with three-hit performances and Martin Maldonado capped the power surge with a two-run homer in the eighth inning for Los Angeles, which evened its mark at 4-4 on its season-high 10-game road trip.
Rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani is returning to the mound after an extended layoff. The Angels (30-25) opted to take a bigger-picture view in pushing back Ohtani’s scheduled start from this past Sunday, with the team calling it a “workload management” situation. Ohtani worked a season-high 7.2 innings in his last outing on May 20, improving to 2-0 in his last three starts after allowing two runs while striking out nine in a 5-2 triumph versus Tampa Bay. He has allowed five runs on 15 hits while striking out 26 batters over his last three starts.
Detroit’s Jeimer Candelario flexed his muscles with a solo homer on Tuesday to reach base for the 23rd straight game, accounting for the longest active streak in the majors. JaCoby Jones also went deep, improving to 4-for-10 with three extra-base hits and three runs scored in his last three games. Designated hitter Victor Martinez has answered an 0-for-16 stretch by going 13-for-37 in his last 11 contests. Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is 14-for-39 with six runs scored and four RBIs in his last nine contests.
Mike Fiers (4-3, 4.78 ERA) while opponent Ohtani on Wednesday. The right-hander surrendered four runs for the second straight outing last Friday but was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision despite permitting nine hits in 5.2 innings against the White Sox. The 32-year-old has struggled with the home run ball this season, as he was taken deep for the ninth time in his last six trips to the mound against the White Sox. Zack Cozart (5-for-12) and Mike Trout (5-for-15) each recorded four extra-base hits versus Fiers, but he posted a 2-1 mark against the Angels in 2017.
Luis Valbuena and former Tiger Ian Kinsler ended significant dry spells in Monday’s 9-2 romp over Detroit, as the former snapped an 0-for-21 drought with an RBI single and a pair of homers while the latter entered the tilt mired in a 2-for-31 stretch before launching a three-run shot. Valbuena and Kinsler joined Albert Pujols with three-hit performances and Martin Maldonado capped the power surge with a two-run homer in the eighth inning for Los Angeles, which evened its mark at 4-4 on its season-high 10-game road trip.
Rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani is returning to the mound after an extended layoff. The Angels (30-25) opted to take a bigger-picture view in pushing back Ohtani’s scheduled start from this past Sunday, with the team calling it a “workload management” situation. Ohtani worked a season-high 7.2 innings in his last outing on May 20, improving to 2-0 in his last three starts after allowing two runs while striking out nine in a 5-2 triumph versus Tampa Bay. He has allowed five runs on 15 hits while striking out 26 batters over his last three starts.
Detroit’s Jeimer Candelario flexed his muscles with a solo homer on Tuesday to reach base for the 23rd straight game, accounting for the longest active streak in the majors. JaCoby Jones also went deep, improving to 4-for-10 with three extra-base hits and three runs scored in his last three games. Designated hitter Victor Martinez has answered an 0-for-16 stretch by going 13-for-37 in his last 11 contests. Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is 14-for-39 with six runs scored and four RBIs in his last nine contests.
Mike Fiers (4-3, 4.78 ERA) while opponent Ohtani on Wednesday. The right-hander surrendered four runs for the second straight outing last Friday but was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision despite permitting nine hits in 5.2 innings against the White Sox. The 32-year-old has struggled with the home run ball this season, as he was taken deep for the ninth time in his last six trips to the mound against the White Sox. Zack Cozart (5-for-12) and Mike Trout (5-for-15) each recorded four extra-base hits versus Fiers, but he posted a 2-1 mark against the Angels in 2017.
