Tigers Sleepwalk to Another Road Loss

Detroit 2, Cleveland 8 (box)

After being forced to play of the Thursday after the all-star break in each of the past few years, this year, the Tigers decided to take an extra day off. Sadly, MLB scheduled them for a game, anyway.

The Tigers scored a first inning run when Austin Jackson was driven home by an RBI single off the wall from Miguel Cabrera, giving the team a 1-0 lead. It didn’t last.

Max Scherzer was wild for much of his start, the first time he’s pitched in nine days, and the Indians made him pay for his high pitch count, and poor location.

The Tribe plated two runs in the second, coming on a walk, a triple, and a fielder’s choice. Even after the Tigers manufactured a run to tie in the fourth, Scherzer couldn’t get right and served up two more in the bottom of that inning. Trevor Crowe doubled to lead off the frame, and was followed by Andy Marte. Scherzer fell behind 3-1 to Marte, who launched the next pitch to the bleachers in left. For Marte, who came into the game hitting .185, it was just his third homer of the year.

Things never really improved for the Tigers after that. Relievers Robbie Weinhardt and Brad Thomas each were charged with a pair of runs as the Tribe plated four in the sixth. (…)

Cheers for

• Baseball – The Tigers played a game for the first time since Sunday, so at least that part felt right, now if they can actually show up and play well…
• The Twins– I know, it’s too early to scoreboardwatch, but the Twins victory over Chicago last night keeps the Tigers just one game out of first. Silver linings, people.

Jeers for

• Max Scherzer– I think he was breathing out of the wrong eyelid or something last night, because Scherzer had a Dontrelle Willis-like game. Through three innings, Scherzer had allowed just one hit, but had already walked five. Let’s just chalk this one up to rust.

What’s on tap?

The Tigers and Tribe play two today, and Detroit will have to make a roster move after game one. Justin Verlander takes the ball in the opener, but after that game, Rick Porcello will be recalled to start game two. In order to do that, someone has to be optioned out, or possibly DFA’d (I’m looking at you, Brad Thomas).

The smart money is on Daniel Schlereth going down, but this might be the time to move Thomas out instead. Given that both players are left handed, and neither likes to get ahead of too many hitters, Detroit will probably choose to use an option rather than completely jettison a player without options. If they decide that this is the end of the road for Thomas, though, I doubt anyone would be too upset.