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Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals: Game Time, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

By Matt Snyder

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Apr 2, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Norichika Aoki (23) leads off first against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Hey it’s baseball! Remember when the Detroit Tigers used to play?

A combination of rainouts and funky scheduling (an artifact of having interleague games all season long) has meant just two games in the last five days for the Tigers. Everyone in baseball has played at least 26 games (with Arizona already playing 31) except Detroit, who have only played 23 games.

Detroit Tigers (14-9) at Kansas City Royals (14-13) — 8:10 PM ET

Kauffman Stadium — Kansas City, MO

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy

When We Last Met

The Tigers swept a rain-shortened series to start the year at Comerica Park with the two wins both of the one-run walkoff variety. The Tigers came back from 3-1 down in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game before the now-departed Alex Gonzalez knocked home the winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth.

Detroit entered the top of the ninth inning in game two with a 1-0 lead, but new closer Joe Nathan couldn’t close down the game. A 1-1 tie took the game to the tenth inning when walks by Austin Jackson and Nick Castellanos set the table for Ian Kinsler to win the game for the team. Kinsler poked a line drive single to center field, and Jackson would motor home for the victory.

Pitching Matchup

Rick Porcello was cruising through five inning in Minnesota last weekend (1 ER, 4 SO, 4 H, 0 BB) before running into trouble when he came out for the sixth inning. A homer, double, and a walk chased him from the game before he could record an out, and the two runners on base came around to score with reliever Justin Miller in the game, so Rick’s final like (5 IP, 4 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB, 6 H, 1 HR) ended up looking worse than it might have otherwise. In all, though, Porcello is having a fine season. His strikeout rate (16.7%) is down from where it was a year ago (19.3%), but it’s still the second-highest rate of his career, and his ERA (3.96) and FIP (3.49) really bring up nothing to complain about.

James Shields has been doing James Shields things for the Royals so far this season. He’s pitching deep into games (6.2 innings on average), not walking many batters, and has thus far achieved a career high strikeout rate (over 25%). His .240 BABIP allowed is probably artificially suppressing his ERA (which stands at an outstanding 2.03), but his FIP (3.27) and xFIP (3.13) suggest he’s been plenty good regardless.

Tigers Lineup
1. Ian Kinsler (2B)
2. Torii Hunter (RF)
3. Miguel Cabrera (1B)
4. Victor Martinez (DH)
5. Austin Jackson (CF)
6. Don Kelly (3B)
7. J.D. Martinez (LF)
8. Alex Avila (C)
9. Andrew Romine (SS)

Injuries 

Tigers:

Royals:

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