Detroit Tigers: Three Things to watch for in Red Sox series finale

After falling to the Boston Red Sox 11-4 on Wednesday night, the Detroit Tigers wrap up a four-game series in Beantown on Thursday.

It was a rough Wednesday night that brought a Tigers team riding high from back-to-back wins in Tuesday’s doubleheader down to earth. As the Detroit Tigers try to come out of Fenway with a series victory, let’s take a look at three things to watch for in Thursday night’s series finale against the Red Sox.

Detroit Tigers- Will Jordan Zimmermann Get Back On Track?

Through the first two weeks of the season, Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann looked nearly unstoppable. His last three games, however, have looked quite different from the dominant form of his first couple of starts. In his last three outings, Zimmermann has surrendered 14 earned runs and saw his ERA increase from 0.66 to 4.94.

The confines of Fenway Park have not exactly been friendly to Jordan throughout his career either. Zimmermann is 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in three career starts at Fenway, his third-highest ERA of any ballpark he’s ever appeared in. Zimmermann is in desperate need for a redemption game to renew Tigers fans’ hopes that he can be the ace he looked like at the very start of the season, but given his past misfortunes in Boston, Thursday night could mean yet another letdown performance.

Detroit Tigers- Can Detroit Solve Rick Porcello?

Taking the mound on the other side for Boston Thursday night is former Tiger Rick Porcello. Porcello has had a rough start to 2019 going 0-3 in his first four starts with a staggering 8.47 ERA.

Despite having suffered from a few rough starts so far on the young season, Porcello has had his former team’s number since leaving the Motor City. In his three starts against the Tigers, he’s 1-0 with a solid 2.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20 total innings pitched. Can Detroit take advantage of Porcello’s poor recent form and finally beat their former teammate or will the righty continue to dominate his old squad?

Detroit Tigers- Josh Harrison’s Lineup Spot

Tigers second baseman Josh Harrison looked right at home in Tuesday’s doubleheader as Ron Gardenhire decided to move Harrison from the leadoff spot to the seventh slot in the order. In just two games batting seventh, the 31-year-old had four hits, two RBIs, and two doubles. That’s compared to his nine hits, three RBIs, and two doubles over 18 games in the leadoff spot.

Harrison was left out of the lineup for Wednesday’s blowout loss. Assuming he’s back in the mix on Thursday, it should be safe to say he’ll be placed back in the middle to later portion of the batting order. Tigers fans were growing uneasy of Harrison’s poor production in the leadoff spot, but now he seems to be starting to find a more comfortable fit in the order.

First pitch is set for 7:10 pm on Thursday night from Fenway Park in Boston.

What are you looking for in the Tigers series finale in Boston? Feel free to let us know in the comments section down below.