The Detroit Tigers are reeling coming into a weekend series against the host Kansas City Royals that begins on Friday.
The Tigers had a much-needed off day on Thursday after being swept in three games by the visiting Boston Red Sox. Detroit has only won four of its last 12 overall and is without four members of its five-man Opening Day rotation because of injuries or suspension.
Tarik Skubal underwent surgery this week to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow. Casey Mize (adductor strain) and Justin Verlander (hip inflammation) are on the injured list.
Framber Valdez is serving a five-game suspension for hitting Boston’s Trevor Story with a pitch after surrendering back-to-back home runs on Tuesday night.
“You have to go out there and expect to win every game,” said Detroit bench coach George Lombard, who served as acting manager for the Tigers’ 4-0 loss on Wednesday because manager A.J. Hinch was suspended for that game because of the Valdez plunking incident. “That’s the mindset you have to have.
“I remember joking around with some guys, ‘We might do down three runs.’ And … then they tack on one more and we’re down four. And you have to think, ‘This comeback is going to be even better than we thought. We thought we just have to come back from three, now we’ve got to come back from four.’
“So you have to have the mindset that you’re going out there to win.”
Detroit hopes Keider Montero (2-2, 3.48 ERA) can restore the winning feeling on Friday. The right-hander has been effective after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo early in the season.
Montero got the win in his latest start, a 5-1 decision over the visiting Texas Rangers on Saturday. He allowed a run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Montero permitted four runs on seven hits in six-plus innings during a no-decision against the visiting Royals on April 16. He did not walk a batter and struck out and five.
In three career starts against Kansas City covering 17 2/3 innings, Montero is 0-1 with a 4.08 ERA.
Kansas City is coming off a four-game home split against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Royals absorbed an 8-5 loss on Thursday, their second straight setback after taking the first two games of the series.
Kansas City pitchers issued eight walks in the series finale.
“You can’t give a team like that, any team, eight walks,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
Bobby Witt Jr. was 4-for-4 with a walk, and he and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning.
Left-hander Kris Bubic (3-1, 3.32) is the scheduled starter for the Royals on Friday night.
His most recent outing was a 4-1 road win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Bubic allowed a run and four hits over seven innings while walking two and striking out seven.
Bubic is quite familiar with the American League Central rival Tigers, having faced them 12 times (nine starts) in his career. He is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA against Detroit.
Bubic started against Montero and the Tigers on April 16, and he lasted 4 2/3 innings while permitting five runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out three in a no-decision.
–Field Level Media
