Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays: Game 85 Preview, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers(48-36) vs. Tampa Bay Rays(40-50) – 8:00pm EDT

Comerica Park – Detroit, MI

TV: ESPN

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket(click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy

The Detroit Tigers have dropped two straight to the Tampa Bay Rays and look to even the season series with a win tonight. Prior to the start of tonight’s game, the Tigers’ activated Ian Krol off the 15-day DL and placed Patrick McCoy on the 15-day DL with a pulled right hamstring.

When We Last Met

The Tigers’ Anibal Sanchez had his most disappointing start of the season and the Rays’ Chris Archer had one of his best. The Tigers’ bats were tepid at best, with only red-hot J.D. Martinez and Alex Avila able to make anything of substance happen at the plate. Sanchez was dominant to start, pitching four hitless innings, but then the wheels fell off. Yesterday’s game was the first time Sanchez had allowed more than three earned runs in an outing this season.

Starting Pitching

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Porcello(11-4, 3.12 ERA) is coming off his second consecutive complete game shut out, and has a scoreless streak of 25 innings. To say that Porcello has been solid recently is an understatement. During his scoreless inning streak, Rick has given up 13 hits and 4 walks. It seems this might REALLY be Porcello’s break out year. The Detroit Tigers’ have been able to rely on Porcello this season, as he’s been extremely consistent and has finally gotten command of his secondary pitches.

In his career against the Rays, Porcello is 2-2 with an ERA of 2.73 in 33 innings pitched.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

David Price(7-7, 3.50 ERA) could be making his final start as a Tampa Bay Ray this evening(though who knows how long this narrative will carry on, July is a long month.) Price’s last start, against the Yankees was a gem, in which he went 7 innings, gave up one run on four hits and three walks and notched 9 strike outs.

In his career against Detroit, Price is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA.

Tigers Lineup

1. Rajai Davis – LF

2. Ian Kinsler – 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera – 1B

4. J.D. Martinez – DH

5. Torii Hunter – RF

6. Nick Castellanos – 3B

7. Eugenio Suarez – SS

8. Bryan Holaday – C

9. Austin Jackson – CF