Detroit Tigers Have an Opportunity to Gain Momentum

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Jul 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) acknowledges the fans as he walks off the field in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers players failed to finish off a sweep in Chicago on Sunday. However, the team is back in action on Monday with a chance to take advantage of a crucial part of the schedule.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and the rest of the team will kick off a week-long stretch comprised of two series. Detroit will play a three-game set in Boston against the Red Sox through Wednesday, before returning home on Friday to face the Houston Astros.

Boston and Houston are two of the better teams in the American League and present a perfect challenge for the Tigers. Currently sitting at 51-48, Detroit is second in the American League Central, trailing Cleveland by six games. Ausmus’ club is also only four games back of Toronto for the second Wild Card spot.

While the Tigers will eventually get J.D. Martinez, Jordan Zimmerman and Daniel Norris back from the disabled list, they’ll have to make do with the current roster for the time being.

That current roster has a chance to make some headway. Positive results in Boston and at home to the Astros could do wonders for Detroit’s momentum moving forward.

Here’s a look at the two series and what to expect.

Boston Red Sox

Pitching Matchups:

Monday: Justin Verlander vs Drew Pomeranz

Tuesday: Mike Pelfrey vs Steven Wright

Wednesday: Michael Fulmer vs Eduardo Rodriguez

As good as Boston’s offense is, the Tigers immediately have a chance to win the series thanks to the fact that Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer are pitching in two of the three games.

Verlander is back to his ace-like ways with a 1.63 ERA and a .165 batting average against over his last four starts. The longtime Tiger also owns a 3.16 career ERA versus the Red Sox.

Fulmer has never faced Boston, but he’s done extremely well when facing opposition for the first time. The Blue Jays, Yankees, Athletics and Angels were all shut out when in their first look at Fulmer.

The rookie’s last outing against Chicago was a rare struggle, but despite allowing four earned runs in five innings, his ERA is still only 2.41 on the season. What’s more, (including the start against the White Sox) Fulmer’s ERA since May 21 is still a minuscule 1.28. He’ll look to continue that success against Boston.

The Tigers could do well in Tuesday’s contest as well. Despite allowing batters to hit .316 with a .409 on-base percentage, Mike Pelfrey has actually been solid in his last four starts. The former Met has pitched to a 3.72 ERA. What’s more, he actually has pitched extremely well in his career vs Boston. Pelfrey owns a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings against the American League East club. He’s held Hanley Ramirez, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia to a combined 14 hits in a combined 70 at-bats.

If the Tigers can score some runs off knuckleballer Steven Wright, the team could be in good shape.

Wright has pitched at an All-Star level this season with a league-leading 2.67 ERA and three complete games in 19 starts. The pitcher has also allowed a mere 0.5 home runs per nine innings. So far, Wright owns a 12-5 record.

Despite the strong numbers, successful knuckleballers are often susceptible to the odd poor start if a knuckleball or two doesn’t move much. The pitch then becomes extremely easy for a batter to put a charge into.

So far this year, Wright has had a number of poor starts. He was tagged for nine hits, five runs and a pair of walks in 4.1 innings against Houston. In two starts against the Rangers this season, the right-hander has allowed 16 hits and 14 runs. Anaheim was also able to get to Wright, notching eight hits and four runs against him in early July.

Wright hasn’t exactly pitched at an All-Star level since the beginning of the month. In four July starts, the pitcher owns a 4.68 ERA in just 25 innings pitched. He’s also hit three batters over the same span. All told, his ERA on the season has risen from 2.18 to 2.67 since the calendar turned to the year’s seventh month.

As it stands, Detroit will miss a chance to face former Tigers David Price and Rick Porcello.

Apr 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) celebrates with shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Astros

Pitching Matchups:

Friday: Matt Boyd vs Collin McHugh

Saturday: Anibal Sanchez vs Mike Fiers

Sunday: Justin Verlander vs Dallas Keuchel

Once again, the Tigers miss a matchup with another former starter as Doug Fister isn’t slated to pitch. In his place, Detroit will face Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers and Dallas Keuchel.

So far this season, Fister and Lance McCullers have been Houston’s best pitchers. While Miguel Cabrera and company catch a break in that regard, the team still has to face McHugh and Keuchel, two starters that combined for 39 wins last season. Fiers, who has a career ERA of 3.83, isn’t exactly an easy out either.

With Matt Boyd (1.17 ERA in his last three starts) and Verlander on the hill, the Tigers have a chance to claim the series.

Boyd will open up the series against McHugh, whose experienced trouble against some Tigers hitters in limited exposure. Miguel Cabrera and Jose Iglesias are both 4-for-8 against the right-hander, while Nick Castellanos is 4-for-9. In just three career at-bats versus the Astros pitcher, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is 2-for3 with a double and a home run. Left fielder Justin Upton also has gone yard against McHugh.

Even if Anibal Sanchez continues to struggle, Detroit will have a chance on Saturday against Mike Fiers. Fiers has failed to reach six innings pitched in a start in 10 of his 18 starts. What’s more, opponents have hit .317 off him in his last five starts.

Sunday’s contest will feature a matchup of two aces that the Tigers will certainly feel they have the upper hand in. Verlander has been excellent as of late, while Keuchel… hasn’t. The reigning American League Cy Young winner has seen his ERA balloon and his WAR number plummet. In 126.1 innings pitched, the left-hander’s ERA is an unsightly 4.70, while his WAR is just 0.2.

The left-hander is also allowing right-handed batters to hit .275 off him. The same batters are also posting a .337 on-base percentage. This is extremely good news for a Detroit lineup that features a number of quality right-handed hitters like Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Nick Castellanos, Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin.

Next: Drew Storen is Worth a Flier

Kinsler, Castellanos, Victor Martinez and James McCann all sport career batting averages north of .300 versus Keuchel.

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Detroit Tigers players failed to finish off a sweep in Chicago on Sunday. However, the team is back in action on Monday with a chance to take advantage of a crucial part of the schedule.

Boston Red Sox

Pitching Matchups:

Monday: Justin Verlander vs Drew Pomeranz

Tuesday: Mike Pelfrey vs Steven Wright

Wednesday: Michael Fulmer vs Eduardo Rodriguez

Houston Astros

Pitching Matchups:

Friday: Matt Boyd vs Collin McHugh

Saturday: Anibal Sanchez vs Mike Fiers

Sunday: Justin Verlander vs Dallas Keuchel

Schedule