detroit tigers Head coach AJ Hinch has dealt with a ragged starting lineup for most of the season
This week, Hinch finally had access to most of his important work.Lefty Tariq Skubal is expected to make his debut Tuesday when tigers Start a three game home series oakland sports teams
Left-handed ace Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been sidelined since late May with a finger injury, is expected to start Game 2 of the series.
“It sounds like both guys are doing a great job,” Hinch said. “We need one last assessment before that, but in terms of pencils, they are our starters.”
Right-hander Matt Manning scored in Detroit’s 14-9 win over Colorado on Sunday. It was Manning’s second start since missing 2.5 months with a broken toe.
Matthew Boyd was out for the season with an elbow injury last month, but other than that everything is back to normal tigers‘ turn around.Hinch has used 13 different pitchers to start this season, with some bullpen games to complete the schedule
Scubal underwent flexor tendon surgery last August. He made steady progress this spring and summer, eventually completing five rehab sessions. He posted a 1.23 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings and hit 97 mph with his fastball during his rehab.
In Toledo’s final game in Triple-A Wednesday, Scubal threw 68 pitches and gave up two unearned runs in four innings.
“It was a good outing,” Skubal said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “The first inning was stressful and then had to play three more. It was good to simulate that situation and experience that feeling, and Feeling best in the fourth. That’s a good sign.”
Skubal went 7-8 with a 3.52 ERA in 21 starts last season. He struck out 117 batters in 117 2/3 innings. He is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the A’s.
Oakland won the series 2-1 at home against the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. The Athletics will start a six-game road trip before the All-Star break.
JP Sears (1-6, 4.43 ERA) will start Tuesday’s game. The left-hander has lost his past three starts, in which he has allowed five home runs in 19 innings.
Sears pitched well in a June 11 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, allowing 2 runs and 4 hits while striking out 8 in seven innings. In his most recent game, Wednesday against the New York Yankees, he allowed seven runs (five earned) and five hits, walking three in four-plus innings.
It was a historic night when Domingo Germain of the Yankees hit the 24th perfect game in major league history. Oakland has scored two or fewer points in eight of its last 11 games.
The A’s had a chance to sweep the White Sox, but fell 8-7 on Sunday. One bright spot was a two-run explosion when outfielder Brent Rooker hit his 14th homer in the eighth inning. Rook was named the team’s All-Star Game representative.
“Whether I’m an All-Star or not, I need that home run,” Rooker said. “I need it for a lot of reasons. It’s good. I think it’s the best swing I’ve had in a while. Hopefully I can keep that going.”
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