Preview: Tigers at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Jul 1, 2018
The Detroit Tigers applied the brakes on an epic slide that saw them lose each of the last 11 contests in June. The Tigers (37-48) look to pick up speed by collecting their second straight win of the new month and salvaging a split of their four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays (39-44) on Monday afternoon.
Nicholas Castellanos went deep for the fourth time in eight games with his fourth career grand slam to highlight Detroit's 9-1 romp of Toronto on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who has two homers among his four hits and six RBIs in the last two contests, is a robust 13-for-32 with 12 RBIs and seven runs scored in his last eight games. Justin Smoak followed up a home run in back-to-back contests in this series with an RBI double for Toronto, which fell for only the second time in 12 home games. The 31-year-old's hot streak hasn't extended to meetings with Monday starter Mike Fiers, against whom he is 1-for-10 with five strikeouts.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Detroit, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (5-5, 4.04 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.00)
Fiers dropped his second straight start and fell to 1-3 in his last eight trips to the mound Wednesday despite allowing one run in seven innings of a hard-luck 3-0 setback versus Oakland. The 33-year-old has struggled on the road this season with a 5.15 ERA, nearly two full runs worse than his total at Comerica Park (3.19). Rogers Centre also hasn't been too kind to Fiers, who has posted an 0-2 mark and 5.91 ERA in two career starts there.
Borucki acquitted himself well in his major league debut, permitting two runs in six innings in a 7-0 loss to Houston. "I thought he was fantastic against a great hitting ballclub. They put pressure on him, and he didn't cave," manager John Gibbons said of the 24-year-old, who is considered the Blue Jays' top left-handed prospect. Borucki's time could be limited with Aaron Sanchez expected to return after a right finger contusion landed him on the 10-day disabled list.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar is 7-for-18 with three runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.
2. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias has four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the series after entering the set mired in a 3-for-15 stretch over his previous five games.
3. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez has eight hits and four runs scored in his last eight games.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Tigers 3
Gracenote
Jul 1, 2018
The Detroit Tigers applied the brakes on an epic slide that saw them lose each of the last 11 contests in June. The Tigers (37-48) look to pick up speed by collecting their second straight win of the new month and salvaging a split of their four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays (39-44) on Monday afternoon.
Nicholas Castellanos went deep for the fourth time in eight games with his fourth career grand slam to highlight Detroit's 9-1 romp of Toronto on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who has two homers among his four hits and six RBIs in the last two contests, is a robust 13-for-32 with 12 RBIs and seven runs scored in his last eight games. Justin Smoak followed up a home run in back-to-back contests in this series with an RBI double for Toronto, which fell for only the second time in 12 home games. The 31-year-old's hot streak hasn't extended to meetings with Monday starter Mike Fiers, against whom he is 1-for-10 with five strikeouts.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Detroit, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (5-5, 4.04 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.00)
Fiers dropped his second straight start and fell to 1-3 in his last eight trips to the mound Wednesday despite allowing one run in seven innings of a hard-luck 3-0 setback versus Oakland. The 33-year-old has struggled on the road this season with a 5.15 ERA, nearly two full runs worse than his total at Comerica Park (3.19). Rogers Centre also hasn't been too kind to Fiers, who has posted an 0-2 mark and 5.91 ERA in two career starts there.
Borucki acquitted himself well in his major league debut, permitting two runs in six innings in a 7-0 loss to Houston. "I thought he was fantastic against a great hitting ballclub. They put pressure on him, and he didn't cave," manager John Gibbons said of the 24-year-old, who is considered the Blue Jays' top left-handed prospect. Borucki's time could be limited with Aaron Sanchez expected to return after a right finger contusion landed him on the 10-day disabled list.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar is 7-for-18 with three runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.
2. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias has four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the series after entering the set mired in a 3-for-15 stretch over his previous five games.
3. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez has eight hits and four runs scored in his last eight games.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Tigers 3