Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Game 101 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (48-52) at Tampa Bay Rays (51-51) — 12:10 PM ET

Tropicana Field — St. Petersburg, FL

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather:  DOME

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When We Last Met

Sigh. The Detroit Tigers futility claimed another victim on Tuesday as David Price was hit hard by his former team. The Tampa Bay Rays had not scored more than four runs since July 8 and have now done it in back-to-back games, putting up 10 runs in the 10-2 shellacking. This drops Detroit four games under .500 and will look to avoid a sweep Wednesday afternoon.

Pitching Matchup

I really need to copy and paste this next statement and save it to my computer in order to jinx this into changing, but here goes…Justin Verlander goes to the mound for the Detroit Tigers still looking for his first victory of the 2015 MLB season (0-3, 5.57). The team is 0-7 in games started by him this season with a mixture of clunky outings from their former ace, poor offensive performances and bullpen meltdowns.

Verlander himself has been up and down lately. After only allowing a run in Minnesota before the All-Star break, he put his team in place for a sure victory, leaving with a score of 6-1 but Bruce Rondon and Joakim Soria saw to that loss. The following start in Detroit against Baltimore, he lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs. Then in his last start Friday night in Boston he went eight strong innings of one-run ball, but the offense was MIA in the 2-1 Tigers’ loss that saddled JV with a no-decision.

Chris Archer (9-7, 2.67) inherited the role of ace of the Tampa Bay Rays after the departure of David Price last season and he’s been good, sporting a solid ERA and 1.017 WHIP. The Royals bombed him for nine earned runs three weeks ago, but he has allowed just three runs in two starts since. He was roughed up a bit by the Tigers last Aug. 19 at Tropicana Field when he allowed four runs, though only one of them was earned, on five hits in 5.2 innings.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

Brad Ausmus finally moves Jose Iglesias up in the lineup, hitting second for just the fifth time this season.

1. Ian Kinsler-2B
2. Jose Iglesias-SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes-LF
4. Victor Martinez-DH
5. J.D. Martinez-RF
6. Nick Castellanos-3B
7. Alex Avila-1B
8. James McCann-C
9. Anthony Gose-CF

Injuries

• Miguel Cabrera — 15-day DL
• Kyle Lobstein — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season

Next: Mike Ilitch won't be a quitter