Detroit Tigers: Week 4 Heroes and Zeroes

Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus walks to the mound as starting pitcher Shane Greene (61) leaves the game in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Zero: Shane Greene

What a pendulum swing for Shane Greene. From not allowing an earned run through 22 innings and posting a 0.39 ERA through three starts to allowing 15 runs in his last two outings, Greene’s season has been extremely bi-polar.

Though he started only one game this week, and his numbers were similar to that of Alfredo Simon‘s in his one start, Greene gets the nod in the tiebreaker because of his weak effort in his prior start.

Facing the Twins in the series finale on Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers’ offense was unusually potent, staking Greene to a lead in the fourth and tied it one inning later when their starter allowed three runs.

When Greene allowed a rare 2015 homer to Oswaldo Arcia, a three-run shot, it made the score 7-3 in favor of Minnesota, it seemed like the dagger for the Tigers. It would not be, however, as the Tigers’ bats came alive for a 10-7 win to save Shane from his second straight loss.

His line for that game was 4.1 innings pitched, allowing seven runs on nine hits. His command was still there, striking out eight and walking none, but when he threw a mistake pitch, the Twins were ready to jump on it.

Greene’s ERA has risen to 4.60, somewhat alarming when you consider how low it was just three games ago. He’ll get his next chance to right the ship Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox.

Next: The Ace Returns