Bless You Boys - Game 34: Minnesota Twins 6, Detroit Tigers 2A detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2015-05-13T22:18:57-04:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/83614102015-05-13T22:18:57-04:002015-05-13T22:18:57-04:00Twins 6, Tigers 2: Lobstein shelled
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<figcaption>Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>One trip through the rotation after his best start of the year, lefty Kyle Lobstein gave his team no chance at winning Wednesday at Comerica Park.</p> <p>DETROIT -- Kyle Lobstein came crashing back to earth, giving up six runs before the third inning had ended. The offense was, again, nearly a no-show. So despite a solid outing by the bullpen, particularly that of Alex Wilson, the Tigers lost 6-2 to the Twins, tying the series.</p>
<p>Lobstein got canned before the third inning had ended. A home run to former Tiger <span>Torii Hunter</span> in the first inning started a short-lived outing, and while he had a 1-2-3 second, the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> ruined his night shortly thereafter. After loading the bases, Lobstein served up back-to-back triples before an RBI double ended his night.</p>
<p><span>Alex Wilson</span> replaced Lobstein and pitched 3-2/3 clean innings, striking out three and giving up just two hits. <span>Al Alburquerque</span> put up a scoreless inning with one hit allowed, before starting the eighth and giving up a hit to the leadoff batter, ending his night. <span>Blaine Hardy</span> finished the eighth on a double play and a flyout to center. <span>Tom Gorzelanny</span> gave up a two-out triple in the ninth, the third of the night for the Twins.</p>
<p>As for the offense ... what offense? Twins starter <span>Ricky Nolasco</span>, who in outings past had been lit up by the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a>, made short work of his foe, allowing just four hits in 5-1/3 innings of work. Not a particularly long outing, and he did put two on before being taken out in the sixth, but only <span>J.D. Martinez</span> and <span>Jose Iglesias</span> got hits off Nolasco until the single by Ian Kinsler. And despite a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh, the Tigers waved at that chance as well. Threat over.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ROARS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b>J.D. Martinez: </b>Was one of two batters to get hits off Nolasco through five innings. Jose Iglesias and J.D., who got not one, but two hits off the righthander. The pitch before Martinez's second hit landed well within the strike zone and J.D. should've been called out, but home plate umpire Chris Guccione gifted him a ball and it went for a hit on the next pitch.</p>
<p><b>Alex Wilson: </b>Stopped the bleeding when Lobstein couldn't buy an out. He gave the Tigers 3-2/3 innings of two-hit ball, striking out three batters and not allowing a run.</p>
<p><b>The bullpen: </b>The bullpen kept the Tigers in the game. The offense just didn't show up again. But the bullpen -- especially Wilson -- kept the Twins to just five hits over 6 2/3 innings pitched. The two-out triple given up by Gorzelanny in the ninth</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>HISSES:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b><span>Kyle Lobstein</span>: </b>Got shelled. Allowed six runs on seven hits, including a home run to Torii Hunter in the first inning. He retired one batter in the third, before getting tattooed for back-to-back triples and a double, all scoring runs.</p>
<p><b>Tigers offense: </b>Same crap, different day.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>STREAKS AND STATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span><span>Yoenis Cespedes</span>' assist in the first inning gave him 38 outfield assists since his debut in 2012, which is second-most in MLB during that time period. Only <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Royals</a> leftfielder <span>Alex Gordon</span> has more, with 44.</span></li>
<li><span>The Tigers grounded into their 33rd double play of the season, which continues to lead MLB.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Victor Martinez</span> struck out three times Wednesday night for just the second time in his Tigers career, and his time since May 12, 2013.</span></li>
<li><span>Jose Iglesias' two-hit day marked his seventh multi-hit game of the season.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<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=2015-05-13&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=2015-05-13&team=Tigers&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span></p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/5/13/8603283/detroit-tigers-minnesota-twins-recap-kyle-lobsteinCatherine Slonksnis2015-05-13T09:00:10-04:002015-05-13T09:00:10-04:00Game 34 Preview: Twins at Tigers
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<figcaption>Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers will look to get their offense back on track tonight against Twins starter Ricky Nolasco.</p> <h4>
<a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> (18-15) at <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> (20-13)</h4>
<p><b>Time/Place:</b> 7:08 p.m., Comerica Park</p>
<p><b>SB Nation blog:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twinkietown.com/">Twinkie Town</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=5/13/2015">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> RHP <span>Ricky Nolasco</span> (2-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. LHP <span>Kyle Lobstein</span> (3-2, 3.00 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>Nolasco</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>13.0</td>
<td>4.85</td>
<td>4.15</td>
<td>0.00</td>
<td>2.00</td>
<td>3.68</td>
<td>5.53</td>
<td>0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lobstein</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>33.0</td>
<td>4.09</td>
<td>3.00</td>
<td>0.00</td>
<td>1.30</td>
<td>3.24</td>
<td>4.56</td>
<td>0.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The Tigers battered Ricky Nolasco in his first start of the year, collecting six runs on six hits and four walks in three innings. This offensive outburst was not surprising given Nolasco's poor numbers for the Twins in 2014. He had a 5.38 ERA and 4.30 FIP -- both career worsts -- in 159 innings, his lowest workload since 2010. However, Nolasco held the Tigers in check, limiting them to just five runs in 19 1/3 innings. Tigers batters hit .264/.308/.375 against Nolasco last season, the lowest OPS of any team he faced more than once.</p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix sidebar">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">MINNESOTA TWINS</th> <th align="left">DETROIT TIGERS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Brian Dozier</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Anthony Gose</span> - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Torii Hunter</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Ian Kinsler</span> - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Joe Mauer</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Miguel Cabrera</span> - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Trevor Plouffe</span> - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Victor Martinez</span> - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Kurt Suzuki</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>J.D. Martinez</span> - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Eddie Rosario</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Yoenis Cespedes</span> - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Eduardo Escobar</span> - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Nick Castellanos</span> - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Aaron Hicks</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>James McCann</span> - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Danny Santana</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Jose Iglesias</span> - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Ricky Nolasco</span> - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Kyle Lobstein</span> - LHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p>Nolasco didn't make his second start of 2015 until nearly a month after his poor showing against the Tigers. He was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation two days after pitching in Detroit, and stayed there for just over three weeks. He has been better in his last two starts, lowering his ERA from 18.00 to 9.00, but only just. Nolasco has allowed seven runs on 14 hits in 10 innings since coming off the disabled list, yet is 2-0 during that stretch. He has limited walks, but is still having a lot of trouble getting hitters out. Overall, opponents are hitting .377/.435/.528 off him this season.</p>
<p>It's impressive enough that Kyle Lobstein has forced himself into the starting rotation conversation despite a very clear-cut group of five pitchers lined up for the jobs in March. Lobstein won't displace <span>Justin Verlander</span> -- nor <span>Alfredo Simon</span> or <span>Shane Greene</span>, most likely -- but the Tigers have an interesting predicament on their hands. Should they send Lobstein back to Triple-A Toledo, or move him into the bullpen, where he could fill any one of many roles?</p>
<p>There are warning signs, though. Lobstein has put up solid numbers against right-handed batters so far this season, but he has more walks (7) than strikeouts (4) against righties. He is still allowing a .351 on-base percentage against righties, and has yet to allow a home run this season. There is something to be said for limiting home runs and forcing opponents to string multiple hits together, but Lobstein is going to get beat eventually.</p>
<p><b>Tigers hitter to fear:</b> <span>Victor Martinez</span> (.625/.727/.750 in 11 plate appearances)<br><b>Tigers hitter to fail:</b> <span>J.D. Martinez</span> (.231/.286/.231 in 14 plate appearances)</p>
<p>The Tigers had never faced Nolasco prior to his move to the American League last season, so most of the numbers the roster has racked up against him are relatively fresh. Current Tigers have faired well against Nolasco, hitting .329/.366/.500 in 82 plate appearances. Many of these numbers are skewed by Nolasco's poor outing on April 8, but there are some promising individual performances. Victor Martinez is 5 for 8 with three walks, while <span>Ian Kinsler</span> has six hits and four RBI in 14 at-bats. <span>Nick Castellanos</span> has a double and a home run.</p>
<h5>Outlook</h5>
<p>The Tigers scored 47 runs in their first six games, or just under eight runs per contest. Most fans did not expect the Tigers to continue that torrid pace, especially in such a depressed offensive environment, but the steep and sudden drop-off has been nothing short of maddening. The Tigers have scored just 93 wins in their past 27 games, an average of 3.4 per game. They have scored two runs or fewer in 16 of their 33 games this season and rank ninth in the American League in runs scored. While it's still too early to call their offensive shortcomings a problem, the lack of run production will be a hot topic for weeks to come if the team can't start stringing together more hits.</p>
<h5>Prediction</h5>
<p>The Tigers win another nailbiter behind a solid performance from Lobstein.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="p1"><span class="s1">★★★</span></p>
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https://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/5/13/8596445/detroit-tigers-minnesota-twins-game-34-preview-2015Rob Rogacki