We have a 3-game series at home against the Detroit Tigers kicking off today. With their record standing at 20 wins and 26 losses, the Tigers have a winning percentage of .435. They are in 3rd place in the Central Division, 6.5 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 213 ranks 6th in the American League, and their .249 batting average ranks 8th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 227 runs (12th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.89, which ranks 13th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.09, ranking 11th. When playing against our Royals this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 1 loss.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP M. Wacha (0-4, 4.25 ERA) vs RHP K. Maeda (0-5, 8.72 ERA)
RHP B. Singer (0-5, 5.80 ERA) vs RHP J. Flaherty (2-4, 4.50 ERA)
LHP C. Ragans (3-2, 2.43 ERA) vs LHP T. Skubal (5-2, 3.19 ERA)
The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Tarik Skubal (Age: 27, Overall: 80, Potential: 80)
2. 1B Mark Canha (35, 55, 55)
3. CL Alex Lange (28, 55, 55)
4. RP Will Vest (28, 55, 55)
5. SP Reese Olson (24, 50, 60)
I consider this one of the most important series we will play so far this year. We are one game behind our ACL divisional rivals, the Detroit Tigers, and pulling a series win or even a sweep would give us much-needed confidence going into next week’s 7-game road series with the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. It’d be great to end the month on another positive trend and start our home series with San Diego, whom we have not yet met this year.
We are showing improvement in most areas offensively and defensively, and our winning percentage so far this month is ahead by a game at 9-8, giving us a .529 winning percentage. But we are still one game behind our Pythagorean record of 21-27 at 20-28, giving us a .417 so far for the year, 7 ˝ games back of leading the division, sitting in 4th place behind Detroit, CWS, and Minnesota Twins, respectively.
There’s still plenty of schedule left for us to change azimuth and streak positive, but I’d like to start seeing that soon.
Game Summary – May 20th – Tigers Flatten Royals, 10-1
Detroit Tigers starter Kenta Maeda pitched his team past the Kansas City Royals, 10-1. In 6.2 innings, Maeda surrendered 3 hits, while striking out 5 and walking 0. He allowed 1 run. At 21-26, the Tigers find themselves in third place in the American League Central Division. The Tigers got a big hit from shortstop Zach McKinstry. Facing Kansas City pitcher James McArthur in the top of the eighth, McKinstry pounded a bases-clearing double to center. His 10th double of the season put the Tigers ahead, 10-1.
"We did a lot of really good things, and it was a good win," said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch.
Just when I thought things were going to turn around...
What can I say about tonight other than the obvious: it was a complete disaster…period. Why does this keep happening, I ask myself.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Kenta Maeda
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (59 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 12 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:34
Attendance: 26606
Special Notes: 1B Mark Canha was injured while running the bases.