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Tigers Look to Capitalize on Blue Jays’ Offensive Woes
The Detroit Tigers are gearing up to clinch a series win against the Toronto Blue Jays, who are currently grappling with inconsistent offense.
Series Overview
The Detroit Tigers are on the brink of securing their second series win in the last seven attempts as they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. After dropping the series opener on Thursday, the Tigers bounced back with victories on Friday and Saturday. Their recent wins, a 6-2 triumph followed by a narrow 2-1 win, have positioned them to potentially turn their fortunes around.
Tigers’ Recent Performances
Saturday’s Game:
- Reese Olson was a standout in the Tigers’ 2-1 victory on Saturday, giving up only one unearned run over 6 1/3 innings to notch his first win of the season.
- Kerry Carpenter delivered the offensive spark with a two-run homer in the first inning, which ended up being all the Tigers needed. Carpenter also hit a two-run homer in Friday’s game, showcasing his power.
Sunday’s Pitching Matchup
Tigers’ Starter – Casey Mize:
- Right-hander Casey Mize (1-3, 4.57 ERA) is set to start for the Tigers on Sunday. Mize is looking to rebound from his worst outing of the season, where he surrendered six runs and nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings against Kansas City on Tuesday.
- Mize acknowledged his poor performance: “Obviously, just a rough day. I let the team down (Tuesday). I would’ve liked to have covered some innings.”
- Despite the rough outing, Mize had shown promise in his previous start, allowing just two runs on two hits over six innings against Miami.
Manager A.J. Hinch’s Take:
- Hinch commented on Mize’s struggles: “He had a hard time getting into the game and as we went through the batting order a couple of times, they were taking really good swings at him. He threw some chase pitches that got hit for singles and he threw some pitches in the strike zone that got hit hard. It just wasn’t his day.”
Blue Jays’ Starter – Yusei Kikuchi:
- Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 2.64 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays. Kikuchi has struggled to secure wins recently, going 0-3 with two no-decisions in his last five starts. However, he delivered a quality outing in his last game, allowing three runs (two earned) over six innings against the Chicago White Sox.
- Kikuchi has also faced issues with run support, as the Blue Jays have scored a total of nine runs in his last five outings and were shut out in his last start.
- Historically, Kikuchi is 1-1 with a 4.71 ERA in four career starts against Detroit.
Blue Jays’ Offensive Woes
The Blue Jays’ inconsistency at the plate has been a significant issue. Their scoring has fluctuated wildly, with the team scoring nine runs in each of their last three wins but only three runs in total over their last three losses.
Manager John Schneider’s Perspective:
- Schneider emphasized the need for timely hitting: “Really, it comes down to getting big hits. It comes down to getting hits with guys on, it comes down to hitting home runs. Stuff we’ve been talking about all year. We have a lot of guys that can hit the ball hard, and there’s a lot of guys who can put the ball in play. What we are working on is to try to put the ball in play harder and more consistently.”
- On Saturday, the Blue Jays struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-11. Schneider expressed his frustration: “That’s been the story of our season. We’ve got to get hits there, no matter who it is, no matter what part of the order you’re at. You’ve got to come through and get those hits. Right now, we’re not doing that.”
Conclusion
The Tigers aim to leverage the Blue Jays’ offensive struggles to secure a series win. With Casey Mize seeking redemption and Kerry Carpenter providing a power surge, Detroit hopes to continue their winning ways. Meanwhile, Toronto will need a strong performance from Yusei Kikuchi and more consistent hitting to avoid another series loss. Sunday’s game is crucial for both teams as they strive to improve their standings and build momentum.
