%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201264.4%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201264.4%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%230C2340%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FA4616%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M58.4%2C131.6v-23.4l-10.1%2C23.4H29.6l-10.2-23.4v23.4H0V76.7h23.5l16.3%2C34.1L56%2C76.7h22v54.9H58.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M110.6%2C131.6c-3.9%2C0-7.2-0.2-9.9-0.5c-2.7-0.4-4.8-1-6.4-2c-1.6-0.9-2.8-2.3-3.5-4c-0.7-1.7-1.1-3.9-1.1-6.6%0A%09%09%09V89.9c0-2.7%2C0.4-4.9%2C1.1-6.6c0.7-1.7%2C1.9-3.1%2C3.6-4c1.7-1%2C3.8-1.6%2C6.5-2c2.7-0.3%2C5.9-0.5%2C9.8-0.5h27.8c3.9%2C0%2C7.2%2C0.2%2C9.9%2C0.5%0A%09%09%09c2.7%2C0.3%2C4.9%2C1%2C6.5%2C2c1.7%2C1%2C2.8%2C2.3%2C3.6%2C4c0.7%2C1.7%2C1.1%2C3.9%2C1.1%2C6.6v28.6c0%2C2.8-0.4%2C5-1.1%2C6.7c-0.7%2C1.7-1.9%2C3-3.6%2C4%0A%09%09%09c-1.7%2C1-3.8%2C1.6-6.5%2C2c-2.7%2C0.3-6%2C0.5-9.9%2C0.5H110.6z%20M138.7%2C94.4c0-1.4-0.4-2.4-1.2-2.9c-0.8-0.5-2.5-0.8-4.9-0.8h-15.8%0A%09%09%09c-2.3%2C0-3.9%2C0.2-4.8%2C0.7c-0.9%2C0.5-1.3%2C1.5-1.3%2C3v19.5c0%2C1.4%2C0.4%2C2.4%2C1.2%2C2.9c0.8%2C0.6%2C2.4%2C0.8%2C5%2C0.8h15.8c2.4%2C0%2C4.1-0.3%2C4.9-0.8%0A%09%09%09c0.8-0.5%2C1.2-1.5%2C1.2-2.9V94.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M187.7%2C131.6V90.7h-19.9V76.7h60.8v13.9h-19.8v40.9H187.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M257.9%2C131.6c-3.9%2C0-7.2-0.2-9.9-0.5c-2.7-0.4-4.8-1-6.4-2c-1.6-0.9-2.8-2.3-3.5-4c-0.7-1.7-1.1-3.9-1.1-6.6%0A%09%09%09V89.9c0-2.7%2C0.4-4.9%2C1.1-6.6c0.7-1.7%2C1.9-3.1%2C3.6-4c1.7-1%2C3.8-1.6%2C6.5-2s5.9-0.5%2C9.8-0.5h27.8c3.9%2C0%2C7.2%2C0.2%2C9.9%2C0.5%0A%09%09%09c2.7%2C0.3%2C4.9%2C1%2C6.5%2C2c1.7%2C1%2C2.8%2C2.3%2C3.6%2C4c0.7%2C1.7%2C1.1%2C3.9%2C1.1%2C6.6v28.6c0%2C2.8-0.4%2C5-1.1%2C6.7c-0.7%2C1.7-1.9%2C3-3.6%2C4%0A%09%09%09c-1.7%2C1-3.8%2C1.6-6.5%2C2c-2.7%2C0.3-6%2C0.5-9.9%2C0.5H257.9z%20M285.9%2C94.4c0-1.4-0.4-2.4-1.2-2.9c-0.8-0.5-2.5-0.8-4.9-0.8H264%0A%09%09%09c-2.3%2C0-3.9%2C0.2-4.8%2C0.7c-0.9%2C0.5-1.3%2C1.5-1.3%2C3v19.5c0%2C1.4%2C0.4%2C2.4%2C1.2%2C2.9c0.8%2C0.6%2C2.4%2C0.8%2C5%2C0.8h15.8c2.4%2C0%2C4.1-0.3%2C4.9-0.8%0A%09%09%09c0.8-0.5%2C1.2-1.5%2C1.2-2.9V94.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M363.3%2C131.6v-14.9c0-1.3-0.3-2.2-1-2.8c-0.7-0.6-2-0.9-4.1-0.9h-18.8v18.7h-20.9V76.7h46.4%0A%09%09%09c3.9%2C0%2C7.1%2C0.2%2C9.5%2C0.7c2.5%2C0.4%2C4.4%2C1.2%2C5.8%2C2.2c1.4%2C1%2C2.3%2C2.4%2C2.9%2C4c0.5%2C1.7%2C0.8%2C3.7%2C0.8%2C6.2v8.6c0%2C2.4-0.5%2C4.3-1.6%2C5.7%0A%09%09%09c-1.1%2C1.4-2.5%2C2.3-4.3%2C2.8c1.6%2C0.4%2C3%2C1.2%2C4.3%2C2.5c1.3%2C1.3%2C1.9%2C3.1%2C1.9%2C5.3v16.8H363.3z%20M363.3%2C93.9c0-1.1-0.2-1.9-0.7-2.4%0A%09%09%09c-0.5-0.6-1.6-0.8-3.3-0.8h-20v9.7h20c1.8%2C0%2C2.9-0.3%2C3.4-0.9c0.4-0.6%2C0.6-1.6%2C0.6-2.8V93.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M447.5%2C131.6c-3.9%2C0-7.2-0.2-9.9-0.5c-2.7-0.4-4.9-1-6.5-2c-1.7-1-2.9-2.3-3.6-4c-0.7-1.7-1.1-3.9-1.1-6.6%0A%09%09%09V89.9c0-2.7%2C0.4-4.8%2C1.1-6.6c0.7-1.7%2C1.9-3.1%2C3.6-4c1.7-1%2C3.8-1.6%2C6.5-2c2.7-0.4%2C6-0.5%2C9.9-0.5h42.2v13.9h-36.2%0A%09%09%09c-2.2%2C0-3.8%2C0.3-4.6%2C0.9c-0.9%2C0.6-1.3%2C1.5-1.3%2C2.8v19.5c0%2C2.5%2C2%2C3.7%2C6%2C3.7h36.2v13.9H447.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M500.8%2C131.6V76.7h20.9v54.9H500.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M551.2%2C131.6V90.7h-19.9V76.7h60.8v13.9h-19.8v40.9H551.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M621%2C131.6v-23.2L598%2C76.7h26.1l8.5%2C14.3l8.6-14.3h24.5l-23.9%2C31.6v23.2H621z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M775.3%2C102.1c-1.2-1.7-2.7-3.4-4.1-4.8c9.2-1.7%2C18.1-5.8%2C25.4-11.6c12.8-10.4%2C19.1-24.9%2C19.1-38.4%0A%09%09%09c0-44-52.4-56.5-84.3-40.8c-9.2%2C4.6-17.1%2C11.1-23.2%2C19.1c-9.2%2C11.8-22%2C41.8%2C8.7%2C38.7C691.2%2C20%2C782.3-9.2%2C790.5%2C38.1%0A%09%09%09c0.5%2C2.4%2C0.7%2C4.6%2C0.7%2C6c0%2C20.5-20.1%2C34.8-37.7%2C28.3c8.2-14.5%2C8.2-21.3%2C7.5-26.8c-1-10.6-13.5-13.8-13.5-13.8l-7%2C12.3l-13.3%2C23%0A%09%09%09l-17.6%2C29.7c-0.5%2C0.7-1%2C1.4-1.2%2C2.2c-23.4-0.7-41.1%2C15.5-43.7%2C38.7c-3.9%2C34.5%2C29%2C55.3%2C58%2C55.3c35.5%2C0%2C62.6-29.2%2C62.6-59.9%0A%09%09%09c0-10.4-2.9-20.8-9.9-30.7V102.1z%20M755%2C126.8c-2.7%2C32.6-47.3%2C59.4-72.5%2C26.8c-7.2-9.4-1.9-32.9%2C17.9-40.1l1.4%2C0.2%0A%09%09%09c-6.3%2C19.3-2.2%2C36%2C22.2%2C33.1c-2.9-11.4-0.2-20.5%2C16.2-50.5v-0.2c1.9%2C0.7%2C3.9%2C1%2C5.8%2C1.2C754.2%2C106.5%2C755.7%2C117.1%2C755%2C126.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M1256.4%2C92c-2.3%2C0-5%2C0.8-7.7%2C3.1c-4.6%2C4.1-5.2%2C11.4-3.7%2C17.6c0.5%2C2.3%2C0.6%2C4.2%2C0.9%2C6.3%0A%09%09%09c-3.4%2C3.4-7.1%2C6.4-10.8%2C8.6c-0.4-6.4-3.1-11.8-6.6-17.4c-3.9-6-4.1-12.8-2.3-19.3c3.7-14.5%2C8.9-0.6%2C6.2%2C2.7%0A%09%09%09c14.3-4.6%2C8.1-19.3-0.8-21.1c-17.4-3.3-28.2%2C19.1-19.5%2C31.9c7.3%2C10.8%2C6.4%2C27.8-6.2%2C27.2c-6.8-0.3-12.2-4.9-12.4-17.8%0A%09%09%09c1.9-5.2%2C2.5-9.7%2C1.1-12.3c-0.1%2C0.4-0.2%2C0.7-0.3%2C1.1c0.1-0.4%2C0.1-0.7%2C0.1-1.1c-4.1%2C4.2-7%2C9.8-8.7%2C16c-12.4%2C14-32.2%2C22.5-22.3%2C0.8%0A%09%09%09l0.2-0.2l42.1-72.7c10.2-17.6%2C7.7-27-4.6-32.7l-12.2%2C21.4l-45.2%2C78.1c-0.9%2C1.5-1.9%2C3.6-2.9%2C5.8c-12.5%2C13.6-31.5%2C21.5-21.7%2C0.2%0A%09%09%09l0.2-0.2l9.7-16.6c10.2-17.6%2C7.7-27.1-4.6-32.7l-11.8%2C20.7c-7.4-32.8-52.3-13.2-64.6%2C23.1c-8.5%2C11.6-24.4%2C21.2-29.4%2C18.4%0A%09%09%09c5.8-11.4%2C12.6-24.7%2C18.6-37.9c3.3-6.6%2C4.4-10%2C4.1-13.3c-0.8-8.5-10.8-11-10.8-11l-2.3%2C3.9c-3.1%2C4.6-6.2%2C10.1-9.5%2C16%0A%09%09%09c-8-31.6-52.4-11.8-64.5%2C24.4c-11.7%2C16.4-37%2C29.2-26%2C5.4l0.2-0.2c6.2-11.6%2C12.6-22.4%2C8.7-35c-2.5-8.1-11-12-18.6-12%0A%09%09%09c-6.6%2C0-12.8%2C3.9-18.4%2C9.5c-0.2-0.4-0.2-0.6-0.2-1c-0.8-8.5-10.8-11-10.8-11l-12.2%2C21.4l-6.7%2C11.3c0-0.1%2C0-0.2-0.1-0.3%0A%09%09%09c-0.3%2C0.8-0.7%2C1.4-1%2C2.1l-5.3%2C8.9c-0.7%2C1.1-1.2%2C2.3-1.8%2C3.5c-19.6%2C27.2-47.9%2C21.7-45%2C0.2c16.2%2C6.2%2C39-10%2C36.9-30.1%0A%09%09%09c-1-7.5-7-11.6-14.9-12.8c-9.1-1.3-21.1%2C4.6-30.3%2C15.1c-19.5%2C21.6-22.8%2C65.3%2C13.1%2C65.3c9.3%2C0%2C22.3-3.5%2C33.9-16.9%0A%09%09%09c-0.3%2C10.2%2C4.9%2C17.5%2C19.6%2C15.8c0.2-7.1%2C1.7-13.7%2C3.7-19.7c2.9-6.4%2C26.7-57.8%2C39.4-52c4.6%2C2.9%2C0.4%2C10.6-0.6%2C12.4%0A%09%09%09c-9.5%2C18-29.8%2C45.2-9.7%2C57.6c13.6%2C8.1%2C32.3-8%2C43.2-24.3c-1%2C14.9%2C7.5%2C26.8%2C22.4%2C26.8c4.1%2C0%2C7.7-1%2C11.4-2.7l-5.4%2C8.9%0A%09%09%09c-22.2%2C36.1-41.4%2C26.1-74.6%2C12.2c-13.5-5.6-24.5-6.6-32.7-4.2c-17.2%2C4.6-22.2%2C22.4-15.5%2C32.8c15.5-23%2C44.4-9.7%2C71.1-3.1%0A%09%09%09c45.2%2C11.2%2C61.1-11.6%2C82.1-50.1c12.1%2C4.2%2C26-7%2C34.8-19.7c-0.5%2C14.4%2C7.9%2C25.7%2C22.5%2C25.7c9.9%2C0%2C18.6-5.8%2C25.5-12.8%0A%09%09%09c1.2%2C3.9%2C3.7%2C7.5%2C8.3%2C10.2c11.1%2C6.6%2C25-2.8%2C35.3-15.4c0.2%2C5.7%2C2.4%2C11.3%2C9%2C15.4c12.4%2C7.4%2C28.2-5.2%2C38.6-19.7%0A%09%09%09c0.4%2C13.6%2C7%2C25.9%2C21.7%2C25.9c2.3%2C0%2C5.2-0.4%2C7.7-1.2c6.6-1.9%2C11.6-5.4%2C15.3-10.2c6.4-3.1%2C12.6-8.9%2C17.5-15.3%0A%09%09%09c-2.1%2C56.5-102.2%2C36-171.1%2C36c-34%2C0-62.4-3.3-58.9%2C32.7c50.6-35.8%2C236.1%2C13.5%2C239-66.1c0.2-3.5%2C0.2-7.3-0.2-11.4%0A%09%09%09C1270.3%2C102.8%2C1263.9%2C92%2C1256.4%2C92z%20M830.9%2C91c6.8-7.5%2C11.6-5.2%2C12-1c0.6%2C11.6-16%2C23-24.2%2C19.7C820.8%2C104.4%2C824.7%2C98%2C830.9%2C91z%0A%09%09%09%20M1009.9%2C105.7l-3.1%2C6.4c-7.1%2C3.3-10.6%2C8.3-11.2%2C13.7c-4.3%2C3.5-9.7%2C6-15.9%2C6c-8.5%2C0-5.6-10.6-3.7-15.5%0A%09%09%09C984%2C94.1%2C1018.9%2C62.6%2C1009.9%2C105.7z%20M1103.8%2C104.9l-3.3%2C5.6c0%2C0-0.2%2C0.2-0.2%2C0.4l-0.8%2C1.3l-1.7%2C3.1c-3.9%2C6.2-12%2C16.2-24.3%2C16.2%0A%09%09%09c-8.5%2C0-5.6-10.6-3.7-15.5C1077.7%2C94.1%2C1112.5%2C62.8%2C1103.8%2C104.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Detroit Tigers: Kansas City Royals Series Preview
Detroit Tigers players were unable to win a road series against the Chicago White Sox, dropping the rubber match by a score of 5-3. The Tigers will now travel to Kansas City for four games.
Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team struggle somewhat on the road this season. Overall, Detroit is 16-19 away from Comerica Park. This isn’t a worrying number by any stretch, but the Tigers could still do better on their travels.
Finishing up a road trip that started in New York and continued in Chicago is a four-game set with the rival Kansas City Royals. As it stands, the Royals are only two games ahead of the Tigers in the American League Central standings, but Detroit owns a much better run differential. Brad Ausmus club is at +7 this season while Ned Yost’s team is hovering at -14.
The Tigers can make up some serious ground in the standings, as Kansas City is currently tied with Cleveland for first in the Central division.
This will mark the second time the two teams have matched up this season. Detroit previously dropped two of three in Kansas City earlier in the season, however both losses were close. The Tigers will be looking for a better result this time around.
Starting Pitchers
During the series with the Royals, the Tigers are slated to send essentially every starting pitcher but Mike Pelfrey to the mound. Pelfrey suffered his seventh loss of the season against Chris Sale and the White Sox.
That means Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Matt Boyd and Jordan Zimmermann will start—and in that order as well.
Verlander will kick things off on Thursday against Kansas City’s Danny Duffy. The longtime Detroit ace will look to claim yet another victory over a Royals team that he’s historically been extremely successful against. In his career, the 33-year-old is 20-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 38 starts.
Next up is Fulmer, who will face the Royals for the first time in his young career. The rookie will be opposed by Yordano Ventura.
After those two match up, fellow young pitcher Matt Boyd will take on Edinson Volquez. The former Blue Jay has faced Kansas City more than any other club in his career. He owns a 1-1 record and a 5.59 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched.
Boyd made his Detroit debut against the Royals and was superb, out-dueling Johnny Cueto and holding Kansas City to one run on seven hits in seven innings. He didn’t walk any batters and added two strikeouts.
Finishing up the series and the road trip is Jordan Zimmermann, who will be seeking his 10th win of the season. The former National has an excellent chance to claim that victory against a team that he is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against in two career starts. Chris Young starts for the home team.
Key Performers and Notable Absences
If Detroit wants to find success in Kansas City, the Tigers will have to be careful with Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer. The duo rank first and second on the Royals in RBI, doubles and home runs.
While Perez and Hosmer pose a definite threat, it will be a very different Kansas City team that Detroit encounters. Mike Moustakas is out for the year due to a torn ACL, while Alex Gordon and Kris Medlen are also on the disabled list.
What’s more, former Tiger Omar Infante is no longer with the team, having recently been designated for assignment. Despite the Infante not being with the team, the Royals still manage to field two different former Tigers on the team in relievers Joakim Soria and Brian Flynn.
Soria arrived in Detroit for the stretch run in 2014, and stayed with the team until last season’s trade deadline when he was dealt to the Pirates for JaCoby Jones. Flynn was drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 draft by the Tigers and was dealt alongside Rob Brantly and Jacob Turner to Miami for Anibal Sanchez and—incidentally—Omar Infante.
Next: 60 Games in, Upton or Cespedes?
Because of all the injuries, not to mention the loss of Infante, Kansas City will start Whit Merrifield, Cheslor Cuthbert and Brett Eibner on Thursday night. The Royals have solid depth, but hopefully the Tigers can take advantage of the absences and come away with a series victory to wrap up the road trip.