Royals at Tigers (Game 2)
The Detroit Tigers are starting to turn things around following a dreadful start to the season that was interrupted by a string of weather-related postponements. After completing a three-game sweep of one slumping club, the resurgent Tigers prepare to face another one when they host the Kansas City Royals in a four-game set beginning with a split-doubleheader on Friday.
Detroit followed a five-game game slide and three straight postponements against the New York Yankees by beating up on Baltimore, outscoring the Orioles 23-15 in the series. Leonys Martin belted a grand slam among three hits and Jeimer Candelario collected four hits and drove in three runs to give the Tigers seven hits and seven RBIs out of the top two spots in the lineup. Kansas City owns the worst record in the American League at 3-13 enters the series mired in an eight-game losing streak after it was outscored 31-12 in a three-game sweep in Toronto. The Royals managed to earn a split of two meetings in Detroit at the beginning of April despite scoring a combined two runs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (0-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (0-1, 7.11)
Hammel was rocked in his season-opening start in Detroit, giving up five runs and seven hits and walking three over five innings. The 35-year-old veteran rebounded with a big effort with six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland on April 8 before allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings in another no-decision versus the Los Angeles Angels last time out. Miguel Cabrera is 8-for-22 and Candelario is 4-for-8 against Hammel.
Norris has worked out of the bullpen as a long reliever this season while the Tigers decide whether to keep him there or send him back to the minors to start every fifth day. He was solid in his season debut at the White Sox, striking out six and allowing one run and one hit over 3 1/3 innings, but was knocked around for four runs and seven hits at Cleveland on April 11. Norris has been tormented by Alcides Escobar (8-for-16).
WALK-OFFS
1. Candelario is 9-for-17 with three homers and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak.
2. Kansas City's bullpen has a major league-worst 7.94 ERA.
3. Tigers DH Victor Martinez has hit safely in five straight games.