Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles Game 90 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (45-44) vs Baltimore Orioles (44-45) — 7:08 PM ET

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI 

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather:  87 degrees, partly cloudy

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When We Last Met

The Detroit Tigers’ bats came alive in the first game of the second half, beating up old foe Ubaldo Jimenez with three homers. Anibal Sanchez worked in and out of trouble but was efficient enough to get the victory as the Tigers beat the Orioles, 7-3.

Pitching Matchup

Are David Price‘s (9-2, 2.38) days in Detroit numbered? Well, technically, probably as there has been no movement between the two sides on a long-term deal to avoid free agency and the Detroit Tigers are seemingly balking at the big numbers that free agent pitchers are commanding (See Max Scherzer). But should the Tigers slide out of the gate, Price is easily the biggest chip the Tigers have to sell off. This is because of not only his solid record and history (including the 2012 Cy Young Award) but the fact that he always puts his team in a place to win. The Tigers are 15-3 in games started by Price this year.

Prior to the break, David gave his club another solid effort, holding the Minnesota Twins to two runs (both unearned) in eight innings of a 4-2 win. Detroit then promptly dropped the final three games of the first half. Price pitched an impressive perfect inning in the All-Star game, striking out two and picking up the victory for the American League.

He’s been great against the Baltimore Orioles, dating back to his AL East days, going 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 17 games. He was good in last year’s ALDS Game 3 in Detroit, holding the birds to two runs, but the offense could only score one in the season-ending loss the Tigers.

After a couple of promising years, including 2013’s All-Star season, Chris Tillman (6-7, 5.40) has regressed in the Baltimore starting rotation this season. That is not to say, however, he has not pitched well recently. Since losing four straight decisions and starting the season 2-7 in 10 starts, Tillman has not lost, going 4-0 in seven starts, but receiving no-decisions in two of his last three games although the Orioles have gone 2-1 in those games.

He was extremely sharp in two games against the Tigers last year, giving the Orioles their only regular season victory versus Detroit by throwing a 8.1-inning gem in April 2014. While he was rocked by back-to-back homers from The Super Martinez Bros in ALDS Game 1, he received plenty of run support to cruise to the 12-3 victory, going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

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

Injuries

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

Next: Tigers midterm grades are in