Bless You Boys - Game 82: Tigers 8, Rays 1A detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2014-07-03T23:46:57-04:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/56308162014-07-03T23:46:57-04:002014-07-03T23:46:57-04:00Tigers 8, Rays 1: Scherzer strikes again
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FuwxRN9PgS5bzyNeZqhIyx9hv8w=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35176664/20140703_kkt_aa1_086.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers offense backed up Max Scherzer with three home runs in the first inning as Scherzer made easy work of the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching seven shutout innings and allowing just one run in the first.</p> <p>DETROIT — <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> manager <span>Brad Ausmus</span> said there was no way Max Scherzer was going to talk his way into pitching the ninth inning, but eight dominant innings was more than enough as Scherzer held the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> to two hits and a run. The Tigers offense gave Scherzer an overabundance of run support, beating up on the Rays with a three home run first inning, which led to an 8-1 win as the Tigers picked up their fourth consecutive victory.</p>
<p>Scherzer allowed a leadoff double in the first inning, which came home to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of <span>Evan Longoria</span>, but it would be the only run of the night for the Rays. Scherzer said he's had better 'stuff,' but despite struggling with commanding the fastball, Scherzer felt like he was able to use his other pitches to attack the strike zone, rather than pitch around it.</p>
<p>"I was pitching with four pitches," Scherzer said. "I was able to drop my curveball when I needed to, was able to use my changeup throughout the entire at-bats and I was able to use both breaking balls when I needed to. That's the stuff I'm looking for, minimizing walks and pitch ahead in the count." (h/t Noah Trister, Associated Press)</p>
<p>The only other hit Scherzer allowed occurred in the fourth inning, a single to James Loney. By the time Scherzer's night was finished, he had struck out eight, walked only one and retired 13 consecutive batters. Scherzer finished the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts and 23 of the last 24 batters were sent down in order.</p>
<p>"I thought my changeup was very nice," Scherzer said. "I was able to throw it for strikes when I needed to and I was able to bring it out of the zone when I needed to generate swing and misses and get them to chase it. Alex (Avila) did a great job of calling that and I thought I executed that pitch well."</p>
<p>Fresh off a three-game sweep of the best team in baseball, the Tigers used the Tampa Bay Rays as their personal batting practice in the first inning. The offense knocked <span>Erik Bedard</span> around for eight hits, six runs, two walks and three home runs in two innings before Rays manager Joe Maddon pulled the plug and replaced Bedard with <span>Cesar Ramos</span>.</p>
<p>Ramos did little to minimize the damage for the Rays as the Tigers tacked on three more runs. <span>Ian Kinsler</span>, <span>Victor Martinez</span>, <span>J.D. Martinez</span> and <span>Torii Hunter</span> each drove in two runs and Kinsler, V. Martinez and Hunter each homered in the first inning. <span>Austin Jackson</span> finished 2-5 with two singles, <span>Nick Castellanos</span> tacked on two more hits and Miguel Cabrera finished 3-4 with two doubles.</p>
<p>"They hit everything on the screws," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "They didn't miss the mistakes."</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ROARS:</strong></p>
<p><b>First inning offense: </b>The opening line for the Tigers offense read: Single, two-run home run, walk, two-run home run, flyout, solo home run, single, flyout, flyout. Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter homered in the first inning, giving the Tigers a firm 5-1 lead over the Rays in the first.</p>
<p><b>Victor Martinez: </b>Spent three days out of the lineup due to soreness in his side and back. In his first at-bat back in the lineup, Martinez blasted a two-run home run to left field.</p>
<p><b>Torii Hunter: </b>Added an fourth inning RBI single to his first inning solo home run, giving the Tigers a 7-1 lead.</p>
<p><b>Miguel Cabrera: </b>Walked in his first plate appearance then proceeded to hit two doubles and a single. He scored each time on base, the fifth time he's done so in his career.</p>
<p><b>Max Scherzer: </b>Pitched eight solid frames as he shut down the Rays for seven innings. Scherzer struck out seven and had six 1-2-3 innings in that time, retiring 23 of the last 24 batters he faced.</p>
<p><strong>HISSES:</strong></p>
<p><b><span>Eugenio Suarez</span>: </b>Finished 0-4 on the night, striking out looking in the fifth He was the only Tigers player without a hit, however, to his credit he did hit the ball hard with back-to-back flyouts in the first and third innings.</p>
<p><b><span>Alex Avila</span>: </b>Got a single in the third but nothing more as he would finish 1-4 and strike out swinging in the seventh.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>NOTES::</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Ausmus said the most difficult decision he had to make for the evening was placing <span>Don Kelly</span> on deck for Nick Castellanos while he went to the bathroom. Ausmus said he had Kelly there in case he was needed to instruct Cabrera to slide when coming home to score.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>STREAKS AND STATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li> <span>The last time the Tigers hit three home runs in the first inning was against <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> pitcher <span>Mark Prior</span> on June 18, 2006. </span>The Tigers hit three home runs in a single inning for the first time since the fourth inning in the game against the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> on September 24, 2013.</li>
<li><span>Miguel Cabrera finished the night 3-4, which gives him 358 multi-hit games as a Tiger. Cabrera is one multi-hit game away from tying Rudy York for 14th in franchise history.</span></li>
<li><span>The five runs scored by the Tigers in the first inning against the Rays totaled more runs than the Rays have recorded in any of their last 18 games against Detroit. </span></li>
<li><span>Miguel Cabrera now has 100 three-hit games with the Tigers, tying him with Gee Walker for the 10th most in franchise history. </span></li>
<li><span><span>Miguel Cabrera's</span> run scored in the sixth inning gave him four runs for the fifth time in his career and the first time since May 19, 2013 against the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a>. </span></li>
<li><span>J.D. Martinez is tied for second in the American League since June 1 with 25 RBI and ranks fourth with a .354 batting average.</span></li>
<li><span>Since <span>Max Scherzer's</span> outing against the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Royals</a> when he gave up a career high 10 runs, Scherzer has pitched with a 1.24 ERA. In his last three outings, Scherzer has allowed just four runs on fifteen hits, walked four and struck out 29 batters in 29 innings pitched.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-07-03&team=Tigers&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-07-03&team=Tigers&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ROLL CALL:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<th colspan="2">Roll Call Info</th>
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<td width="150">Total comments</td>
<td>782</td>
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<td>Total commenters</td>
<td>41</td>
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<td>Commenter list</td>
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<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Baker">Alex Baker</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BigAl">BigAl</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DJ%20Screw">DJ Screw</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Dale%20S">Dale S</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Designated%20for%20Assignment">Designated for Assignment</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Emil%20Sitka">Emil Sitka</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/HookSlide">HookSlide</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jacob30">Jacob30</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Klesher32">Klesher32</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/LoganB">LoganB</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MSUDersh">MSUDersh</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Nonsuch%20Ned">Nonsuch Ned</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rob%20Rogacki">Rob Rogacki</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SanDiegoMick">SanDiegoMick</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Siggzilla%20v1.2">Siggzilla v1.2</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Singledigit">Singledigit</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpartanHT">SpartanHT</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/There%20Can%20Only%20Be%20One%20Verlander">There Can Only Be One Verlander</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Tiggersmom">Tiggersmom</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Verlanderful">Verlanderful</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/aelix">aelix</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ahtrap">ahtrap</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/art%20o.%20pitching">art o. pitching</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/beelze">beelze</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/dimes5">dimes5</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ellensaurus">ellensaurus</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/forthewin234">forthewin234</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/frisbeepilot">frisbeepilot</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/fwgeneral">fwgeneral</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/hellbly">hellbly</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ja_zz">ja_zz</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/knucklescarbone">knucklescarbone</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/lesmanalim">lesmanalim</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mrsunshine">mrsunshine</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/silveran">silveran</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/stevenyc">stevenyc</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/subic%20sailor">subic sailor</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/swish330">swish330</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>Story URLs</td>
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<div><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869051/game-82-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm">http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869051/game-82-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflow">http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflow</a></div>
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<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>TOP TEN COMMENTERS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<th width="20">#</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th># Comments</th>
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<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SanDiegoMick">SanDiegoMick</a></td>
<td>120</td>
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<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Singledigit">Singledigit</a></td>
<td>82</td>
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<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Baker">Alex Baker</a></td>
<td>69</td>
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<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a></td>
<td>51</td>
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<td>5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/swish330">swish330</a></td>
<td>43</td>
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<td>6</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpartanHT">SpartanHT</a></td>
<td>43</td>
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<td>7</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DJ%20Screw">DJ Screw</a></td>
<td>34</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>8</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/frisbeepilot">frisbeepilot</a></td>
<td>30</td>
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<td>9</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a></td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>10</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/There%20Can%20Only%20Be%20One%20Verlander">There Can Only Be One Verlander</a></td>
<td>24</td>
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<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>TOP RECS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<th width="60"># Recs</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th>Comment Link</th>
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<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869051/game-82-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm#243564376">[no title]</a></td>
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<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mrsunshine">mrsunshine</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflow#243584038">FATALITY</a></td>
</tr>
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<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflow#243584008">Four in a row, baby!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Baker">Alex Baker</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869051/game-82-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm#243562630">HE IS SO HOT RIGHT NOW</a></td>
</tr>
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<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Alex%20Baker">Alex Baker</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflow#243580552">he sees the strike zone and he wants to paint it black</a></td>
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<td><br></td>
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https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869411/tigers-8-rays-1-scherzer-shuts-down-rays-as-tigers-offense-blastsCatherine Slonksnis2014-07-03T21:50:51-04:002014-07-03T21:50:51-04:00Game 82 Afterglow
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<p>Bask yet again!</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869803/game-82-afterglowNCDee2014-07-03T20:32:53-04:002014-07-03T20:32:53-04:00Game 82 Overflow
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FZ-F_wCK60yV06pfnw9jv7ll7fM=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35174650/20140703_kkt_aa1_059.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This is good baseball!</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5869685/game-82-overflowNCDee2014-07-03T09:00:09-04:002014-07-03T09:00:09-04:00Game 82 Preview: Rays at Tigers
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Max Scherzer and the Tigers welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Comerica Park for the first time in 2014.</p> <h4>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> (38-49) at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> (47-34)</h4>
<p><b>Time/Place:</b> 7:08 p.m., Comerica Park</p>
<p><b>SB Nation blog:</b> <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/" target="_blank">DRaysBay</a></p>
<p><b>Media:</b> Fox Sports Detroit, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENU#date=7/3/2014" target="_blank">MLB.TV</a>, <a href="http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/schedule/radioaffiliates.jsp" target="_blank">Tigers Radio Network</a></p>
<p><b>Pitching Matchup:</b> LHP <span>Erik Bedard</span> (4-5, 4.21 ERA) vs. RHP <span>Max Scherzer</span> (9-3, 3.64 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>Bedard</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>72.2</td>
<td>7.93</td>
<td>3.34</td>
<td>0.87</td>
<td>1.39</td>
<td>3.79</td>
<td>4.13</td>
<td>0.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scherzer</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>111.1</td>
<td>10.67</td>
<td>2.59</td>
<td>0.89</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>2.95</td>
<td>2.93</td>
<td>2.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Erik Bedard's journeyman career continued with the Tampa Bay Rays this season, his fifth club in the last four seasons. Like his previous stops, his overall numbers are unimpressive. However, this season has been better than his 4.21 ERA indicates. He has a 3.79 FIP and one start -- a four inning, seven run performance against the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> -- is the difference between fifth starter numbers and a 3.54 ERA. He has not logged mid-rotation innings, however, averaging just five innings per start. He has more starts of four innings or fewer (five) than quality starts (four) in 2014.</p>
<p>For the second consecutive season, left-handed hitters have teed off on Bedard. While he doesn't face many, lefties hit .309/.391/.441 off him last season and have chipped in an .837 OPS in 84 plate appearances this season. The secret? Lefties are getting on base at a startling clip. Since the start of 2013, Bedard has walked 10% of the left-handed batters he has faced. A BABIP north of .350 doesn't hurt either. Righties still hit for plenty of power against him, though, including 20 of the 25 home runs he has allowed since the start of last season.</p>
<p>The Max Scherzer of 2013 made a triumphant return in his last two June starts, a pair of Tigers victories. Scherzer struck out 21 and walked three in just 13 innings of work, allowing three total runs. He fanned 13 in his last outing, a no-decision against the whiff-happy <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a>. Despite some middling overall numbers, Scherzer has put the Tigers in position to win on most nights. The team is 12-5 when he takes the mound this season, and three of those losses were the result of a Tigers offense that scored four total runs.</p>
<p><b>Hitter to fear:</b> <span>James Loney</span> (.250/.286/.450 in 21 plate appearances)<br><b>Hitter to fail:</b> <span>Desmond Jennings</span> (.083/.083/.083 in 12 plate appearances)</p>
<p>Scherzer has dominated the Rays throughout his career, allowing a 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and .547 OPS in six starts. This has resulted in some ugly numbers from Rays hitters, including a .167 OPS from Desmond Jennings, who has struck out five times in 12 at-bats. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> is just 2-for-15, while superstar third baseman <span>Evan Longoria</span> isn't much better at 2-for-12. James Loney is the only one with an OPS above .650, though four Rays -- Loney, Zobrist, Longoria, and former Tiger Matt Joyce -- have homered off Scherzer in the past. Speaking of Joyce, he has continued to mash right-handed pitching this year, hitting .290/.378/.444 off righties in 254 plate appearances.</p>
<h5>Outlook</h5>
<p>Despite their record, the Rays are still a very dangerous team. Their pitching staff just set the major league record for most strikeouts in a month, and their pythagorean record suggests that they're a couple wins better than the current standings appear. However, their anemic offense is still holding them back. They aren't the worst offensive team in the AL -- that dubious honor belongs to the defending champions -- but they rank at or near the bottom in most offensive categories. They don't strike out much and are the most disciplined team in the league, though, so this may be a tough matchup for the Tigers' power arms if they can't find the strike zone.</p>
<h5>Prediction</h5>
<p>Scherzer rolls and the Tigers continue their perfect homestand.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/3/5862798/2014-game-82-preview-tampa-bay-rays-at-detroit-tigersRob Rogacki