Tigers at Red Sox
The Detroit Tigers are well aware of the kind of damage that can be inflicted by slugger J.D. Martinez, who swatted 99 home runs during 3 1/2 seasons in the Motor City. Martinez haunted his former teammates in the opener of a three-game series and looks to continue his power binge for the Boston Red Sox against the visiting Tigers on Wednesday night.
Martinez became the first player in the majors to reach 20 homers with a two-run shot -- his fifth in 10 games -- that propelled major league-best Boston to a 6-0 rout on Tuesday night and its third straight win. Martinez's bat also hurt the Tigers literally as he ripped a line shot off the hand of Jeimer Candelario that forced the third baseman to exit the game with a jammed middle finger. X-rays were negative, but Candelario has been an integral part of Detroit's turnaround, putting together a 28-game on-base streak that was snapped in Monday's doubleheader loss to the New York Yankees. Nicholas Castellanos has multiple hits in six of the last eight games for the Tigers, who have dropped three of four following an 8-2 stretch.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Blaine Hardy (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (6-1, 3.88)
Hardy never started a game in the majors in his first four seasons but he is making a bid to earn a permanent start in Detroit's rotation after winning his last two outings in impressive fashion. The 31-year-old limited the Chicago White Sox to one run on three hits over seven innings on May 27 and followed that up with six innings of two-run ball versus Toronto. He has split two relief appearances versus Boston.
Since escaping with two no-decisions despite giving up 10 runs in 10 innings, Rodriguez has surrendered a combined seven runs while going 3-1 over his last five starts. He won his third straight start -- striking out seven in all three -- by limiting Toronto to two runs on three hits over a season high-tying 6 2/3 innings. James McCann is 3-for-7 with two homers off Rodriguez, who is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA versus Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 2B Eduardo Núñez, who has hit safely in six straight games, and 1B Mitch Moreland are each 5-for-8 in the last two contests.
2. Castellanos leads the American League with 26 multiple-hit games, including 11 in the last 17 contests.
3. Boston placed LH Drew Pomeranz (biceps tendinitis) on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday.