Bless You Boys - Game 47: Tigers at AthleticsA detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2014-05-26T20:19:49-04:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/55156372014-05-26T20:19:49-04:002014-05-26T20:19:49-04:00A's 10, Tigers 0: A's 5 home runs blanks Tigers
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<figcaption>Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Drew Smyly joined Justin Verlander with back-to-back losses, the Tigers' bats fell cold and Phil Coke came out to surrender a grand slam to the A's which slammed the door on any possibly victory for the Tigers.</p> <p dir="ltr">DETROIT--The <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> kicked off a four-game series against the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a> on Memorial Day with <span>Drew Smyly</span> on the mound. Smyly has had an up and down season making the transition from the bullpen to starting again, and an inconsistent schedule coupled with pitching in relief hasn't helped.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Smyly had another rough start on Monday when he allowed two solo home runs in the second inning and back-to back homers in the third inning. He had difficulty controlling his offspeed pitches and all of the home runs Smyly allowed were by way of two breaking balls and two changeups.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As if four home runs weren't bad enough, Smyly gave up back-to-back singles and a walk which loaded the bases in the fourth. A sacrifice fly by <span>Coco Crisp</span> and an RBI single by <span>Josh Donaldson</span> added two more before Smyly got out of the inning. After five innings Smyly was finished having allowed a career high eight hits and six runs (all earned) and had struck out only three batters.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Corey Knebel's major league debut on May 24 did not go as planned for the Tigers. However, in his second relief appearance, Knebel pitched two innings and gave up only two hits while striking out two. But <span>Phil Coke</span> replaced Knebel in the eighth and served things up, grand slam style. He had some help though with interference being called on catcher <span>Bryan Holaday</span>, and a fielding error by <span>Nick Castellanos</span> which loaded the bases.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With the grand slam, the Tigers have now allowed nine or more runs in five of their last six starts and have been shut out for just the second time this season. The last time the Tigers were shut out was on April 11 in game one against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego Padres</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Austin Jackson</span> nearly made the catch of the year in the second inning when he made a leaping grab attempt at a ball hit over the center field wall by Brandon Moss. While Jackson had actually caught the ball he was unable to close his glove in time before it ricocheted out of his grip and over the wall for the first home run of the game.</p>
<p dir="ltr">One positive in a week where upsides have been to find is that it would seem the cork has been pulled on <span>Andrew Romine</span> since he hit his first career home run on May 23. Romine made solid contact again when he scorched a first-pitch double to left field in the third inning and got the first hit of the day for the Tigers.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Coming into Monday's game Cabrera was hitting .372/.418/.663 for a combined 1.081 OPS with five home runs and 10 doubles in May. He continued that on Monday with a leadoff double in the fourth inning. But with the exception of the hits by Romine and Cabrera, only two other players reached safely. Davis hit a single to center and <span>Victor Martinez</span> was the only Tigers player who more than one hit (two singles) in the game.</p>
<p>Smyly is the second starting pitcher who has suffered back-to-back losses since May 18 when the Tigers had won 11 consecutive road games and six in a row overall, joining <span>Justin Verlander</span> who took the loss on Sunday. The only starting pitcher who has not taken a loss nor allowed a home run in that time frame is <span>Anibal Sanchez</span> who starts for the Tigers on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Despite losing seven of their last eight contests, the Tigers are third in MLB, although they no longer lead the American League. <span>Max Scherzer</span> looks to break the ongoing losing streak the Tigers currently find themselves stuck in and he will take the mound on Tuesday as the Tigers face the A's right-handed pitcher <span>Sonny Gray</span>.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/5/26/5752530/as-10-tigers-0-smyly-serves-up-four-home-runs-as-tigers-get-shut-outCatherine Slonksnis2014-05-26T10:00:44-04:002014-05-26T10:00:44-04:00Game 47 Preview: Tigers at Athletics
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<figcaption>Jason O. Watson</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers hope to get off to a fresh start out west after a 1-6 record last week. First up is a four-game series with the Oakland A's.</p> <h4>
<a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> (28-18) at <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a> (30-20)</h4>
<p><b>Time/Place:</b> 4:05 p.m., O.Co Coliseum</p>
<p><b>SB Nation blog:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com">Athletics Nation</a></p>
<p><b>Media:</b> Fox Sports Detroit, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENU#date=5/26/2014">MLB.TV</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/schedule/radioaffiliates.jsp">Tigers Radio Network</a></p>
<p><b>Pitching Matchup:</b> LHP <span>Drew Smyly</span> (2-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. LHP <span>Tommy Milone</span> (2-3, 3.99 ERA)</p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pitcher</td>
<td>GS</td>
<td>IP</td>
<td>K/9</td>
<td>BB/9</td>
<td>HR/9</td>
<td>WHIP</td>
<td>FIP</td>
<td>SIERA</td>
<td>fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Smyly</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>39.1</td>
<td>8.47</td>
<td>3.66</td>
<td>0.92</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>3.71</td>
<td>3.79</td>
<td>0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Milone</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>47.1</td>
<td>5.70</td>
<td>3.04</td>
<td>0.95</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>4.43</td>
<td>4.73</td>
<td>0.4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Talk about a lack of offensive support. The A's offense put up just <i>one hit</i> in Tommy Milone's last start. However, that hit was a home run off the bat of Brandon Moss, and they added a pair of unearned runs to give Milone a 3-2 victory, his second win of the year. Milone has been excellent recently, holding his last three opponents to just three combined runs in 19 2/3 innings. Of course, this came after a rough start to the year that saw his ERA climb to 5.86 in early May. His peripheral numbers aren't great -- strikeouts are down and walks are up compared to his career norms -- but he has never been one to blow hitters away.</p>
<p>The term "crafty lefty" fits Milone to a tee. His fastball tops out at 89-90 miles per hour and sits slightly lower than that. He has been throwing a two-seam fastball more often in 2014, but has not seen his overall ground ball rate increase. Opposing batters are pounding that pitch into the ground, resulting in a much lower ISO than his four-seam fastball. It's early, but it could be part of the reason why Milone is currently posting the lowest home run rate of his career. He is also throwing his curveball more often, especially to right-handed hitters. He has always had some mild reverse platoon splits, but is holding righties to hitting just .227/.310/.376 this season.</p>
<p>While the Tigers' starting rotation had an awful week as a whole, Drew Smyly's previous start was actually somewhat encouraging. He did not have his best stuff -- resulting in a career high five walks -- but was able to battle through five innings while allowing just three runs. It was a decent outing for a fifth starter, even if it was below Smyly's usual standards. He had trouble locating everything and worked behind in the count to most batters after throwing just 12 of 27 first-pitch strikes. He still struck out six, however, and generated nine whiffs on 110 pitches.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2214393/location_php.png"><img alt="Location_php_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2214393/location_php.png"></a><br><i> via <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/location.php?pitchSel=592767&game=gid_2014_05_19_detmlb_clemlb_1/&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=2&league=mlb">www.brooksbaseball.net</a></i></p>
<p><b>Hitter to fear:</b> <span>Brandon Moss</span> (.500/.500/2.000 in 2 plate appearances)<br><b>Hitter to fail:</b> <span>John Jaso</span> (.000/.000/.000 in 4 plate appearances)</p>
<p>Smyly has never started a game against the A's, but has been beat up in three relief appearances. Overall, the A's are hitting .455/.538/1.000 against him, though in a limited sample of 13 plate appearances. The lone home run belongs to Brandon Moss, who hit a three run bomb off Smyly in a 14-4 A's rout last August. Josh Donaldson, <span>Jed Lowrie</span>, and <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> have all doubled off Smyly, though it's worth noting that Callaspo is the only one that has faced Smyly enough to log a second career hit off him. Smyly isn't likely to see John Jaso in today's lineup, as the A's have leveraged their lineups to gain the platoon advantage in 70 percent of plate appearances this season.</p>
<h5>Outlook</h5>
<p>Milone has had success against the Tigers in his young career, holding them to a 3.24 ERA in three career starts. He has not been very efficient this year, however, and the A's bullpen is more vulnerable than the overall numbers let on. The A's have hit Smyly well in a few relief opportunities, but are hitting just .238/.321/.377 against left-handed pitchers this season. Their .738 OPS against left-handed starters is much better, and Smyly's platoon splits will once again be problematic against a righty-heavy lineup. The offense and bullpen may have to carry this one for the Tigers, a daunting task if <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> is not healthy enough to play.</p>
<h5>Prediction</h5>
<p>The Tigers allow fewer than 10 runs today.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/5/26/5747814/2014-game-47-preview-detroit-tigers-at-oakland-athleticsRob Rogacki