On deck: Tigers open three-game series against Royals at Comerica Park
The NFL Draft won't be the only game in town this weekend.
After back-to-back series on the road, the Detroit Tigers return to Comerica Park for a six-game homestand, starting with a three-game series with the American League Central rival Kansas City Royals. The series begins Friday, and concludes Sunday.
The Royals are off to a 15-10 start, good for second in the AL Central behind the front-running Cleveland Guardians (17-7). The Tigers (14-11), coming off taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays, are just a game back of the Royals, in third place.
Here's a brief look at the series with the Royals.
On deck: Kansas City Royals
▶ Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit
▶ First pitch: Friday — 1:10 p.m.; Saturday — 6:10 p.m.; Sunday — 1:40 p.m.
▶ TV/radio: All three games on Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM
▶ Probables: Friday — RHP Seth Lugo, tentative (3-1, 2.03) vs. RHP Reese Olson (0-3, 3.80); Saturday — RHP Brady Singer, tentative (2-1, 2.76) vs. RHP Casey Mize (1-0, 2.95); Sunday — RHP Michael Wacha, tentative (1-2, 3.81) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (3-0, 1.82).
Scouting report
▶ Lugo, Royals: He’d given up just three runs over four starts before the Orioles got him four runs in 5.1 innings last time out. He brings eight different pitches to the table, none of them get a lot of swing-and-miss (11% strikeout rate), but they don’t usually foster hard contact, either. So far this year, right-handed hitters are doing most of the damage (.811 OPS vs. .626 by lefties). Part of the reason, righties are 6 for 15 off his sinker and 5 for 10 off his slurve, two of his favored weapons against righties.
▶ Olson, Tigers: Too many numbers trending in the wrong direction right now: Hard-hit rate up (45%), strikeout rate down (18.8%), walk rate up (8.3%), percentage of pitches in the strike zone down (41.8%). Opponents are hitting .280/.354/.354 with a .708 OPS in four starts. On a positive note, he’s only allowed six extra-base hits, all doubles. He’s got a 52% ground ball rate, but a lot of them are finding holes.
— Chris McCosky