Rays at Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are sinking toward the bottom of the American League Central standings and look to begin turning things around when they send ace Justin Verlander to the mound Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays to open a four-game set. The Tigers have allowed 39 runs while losing five of their last six, capped by a 2-1 loss to Arizona on Wednesday night.
Alex Avila knocked in the only run for Detroit last time out and Nicholas Castellanos went 0-for-4 after hitting safely in 11 straight as the Tigers left seven on base to match a season-worst of four games under .500 at 30-34. Verlander hopes to put an end to a four-game winless stretch and the veteran will oppose Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb, who makes the 100th start of his career. The Rays could not finish a quick two-game sweep at Toronto on Wednesday after coughing up a 3-1 lead, rallying from three down to tie it before allowing a run in the eighth for a 7-6 loss - only their second in the last eight contests. Corey Dickerson continues to shine after going 6-for-12 with a homer and five RBIs the last three games for Tampa Bay, which swept Detroit in three contests at home April 18-20 after going 1-6 versus the Tigers in 2016.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.29 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.68)
Cobb rebounded from his worst start of the season - when he allowed nine runs in five innings at Seattle - by holding Oakland to one tally over six frames in a victory Friday. The 29-year-old Boston native struck out five and gave up four hits in that outing and is one shy of 500 strikeouts in 99 major-league contests. Avila is 4-for-11 versus Cobb, who is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in seven career games against the Tigers.
Verlander allowed 12 runs on 26 hits over 19 2/3 innings in his past four starts while posting a loss and three no-decisions, including last time out against Boston when he yielded three tallies in five frames. The 34-year-old Virginia native has struggled with control while accumulating 37 walks in 75 innings - four last Saturday. Derek Norris is 3-for-7 against Verlander, who is 8-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 15 games versus Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria is 9-for-21 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera needs one homer to tie Carl Yastrzemski (452) for 37th on major league baseball’s all-time list.
3. Rays SS Tim Beckham (knee) has missed the last two games, but is expected to play at some point in this series.