After a 4-2 homestand (though losing 2 of 3 to the Twins left a sour taste in our mouths), the Tigers head out on a west coast road trip that could make or break their season.
The Tigers play 3 games each against the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels, the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's. We were witness to how awful the M's are, but the Angels and A's are fighting for 1st place in the AL West. No matter the teams you play, any west coast trip is fraught with danger. For a Tigers team struggling to right their ship, that last place I want them is on the left coast. Bad things happen out there man, bad things...
Unfortunately, the trip begins with what's not exactly a comforting pitching matchup.
Hoping to stave off bad things for the Tigers will be Kenny Rogers (4-4, 6.66) (6.66?! Talk about a bad omen...) Rogers is 3-1 in his last 5 starts, but his ERA has been above 6 for most of the season (it's actually gone up over his past 3 starts), and he has yet to pitch more than 6.2 innings in '08. Expect the Tigers' pen to get getting ready by the 5th inning.
Facing The Gambler is Jon Garland (5-3, 4.34), who always seems to be tough on the Tigers, as his career 13-6 record (8-2 since 8/04) against them attests. Garland has pitched well recently, as he's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA for the month of May.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day! Oh yeah, one more thing. Go Wings! Go Pistons!
Short hops:
For the POV of the opposition, visit SB Nation's Halos Heaven.
The Freep's Tiger beat writer, Jon Paul Morosi , illuminates us to the fact acquiring high priced veterans isn't the only way to build a World Series winner. He thinks the Tigers may have made a few mistakes in putting together this season's roster. My thoughts? Duh!
At the News, Lynn Henning delves into the Tigers' pitching staff's biggest issue. They are issuing walks at a disturbing rate.
With MLB's amateur draft drawing near, Baseball America has posted their first mock draft. They have TCU pitcher Andrew Cashner going to the Tigers at 21st overall. Cashner fits the Tigers' mold: Big (6' 5"), with a high 90's fastball.