Phillies 1. David Lough (L) CF 2. Tyler Goeddel (R) LF 3. Maikel Franco (R) 3B 4. Ryan Howard (L) DH 5. Darin Ruf (R) 1B 6. Cameron Rupp (R) C 7. Cedric Hunter (L) RF 8. Emmanuel Burriss (S) 2B 9. Ryan Jackson (R) SS _______________________________Nola vs Sanchez__________________________ Tigers 1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B 2. Justin Upton (R) DH 3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 1B 4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 5. Tyler Collins (L) CF 6. James McCann (R) C 7. Mike Aviles (R) SS 8. John Mayberry Jr. (R) LF 9. Andrew Romine (S) 3B
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Victor Martinez might swing a bat Monday. He might not. But with opening day just more than two weeks away, there's little doubt Detroit Tigers fans would like to see him swinging a bat really soon. Martinez has not played for the Tigers since leaving a game six days ago with a left hamstring strain. Prior to his team's split-squad game against the Atlanta Braves, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was asked if it is possible that Martinez might not be ready for opening day. "Is there any possibility?," Ausmus said, then flipped the sarcasm switch on. "Of course there is. There's a possibility that everyone in camp might not be ready. (But) I wouldn't say it's trending that way." When pressed further on the question, Ausmus did leave open the chance that Martinez might not be ready. "It's a possibility," he said. The Tigers have just 12 Grapefruit League games remaining following today's split-squad games. They open the season April 5 -- 16 days from now -- against the Marlins in Miami. The fact that the Tigers open the season with two interleague road games increases the likelihood -- at least slightly -- that Martinez won't be in the starting lineup for those two games. The Tigers were hoping to get Martinez a bit of time at first base this spring, but they might be hesitant to do that with him coming off a hamstring injury. Even if he is available at that point, there is a chance the Tigers would simply utilize him as a pinch hitter rather than risk playing him in the field in those two games. Martinez has been receiving treatments and going through workouts in preparation for his eventual return to the lineup. "Nothing new," Ausmus said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow. There's a possibility he may swing a bat tomorrow, soft toss, but we've got to wait and see."
Anibal Sanchez makes impressive spring debut in Tigers' loss to Phillies LAKELAND, Fla. -- Anibal Sanchez made his first start a good one. Sanchez did not allow a hit in four shutout innings Monday afternoon in a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Tigers. It was the first Grapefruit League start this spring for Sanchez, who has been sidelined by right triceps inflammation that popped up Feb. 22 during a bullpen session. Sanchez struggled with his command in the first inning. He walked leadoff hitter David Lough to start the game and threw more balls (nine) than strikes (six) in the first inning. But Sanchez settled down from there. He recorded all of his outs via groundouts or strikeouts and faced the minimum 12 batters in four innings of work. Sanchez's final line: 4IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3SO. He threw 54 pitches, 33 for strikes.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Daniel Norris' latest test for the fifth spot in the Tigers' rotation ended in the first inning, when he left Tuesday's start against the Blue Jays with an injury. Norris pitched on Tuesday because he was scratched from his previously scheduled outing on Saturday with lower back stiffness. He struggled through a 25-pitch opening frame against his old club, including a nine-pitch battle with Jose Bautista that ended in a walk ahead of Troy Tulowitzki's three-run homer. The 22-year-old southpaw gave up a Chris Colabello double after Tulowitzki's homer, then fell behind 3-0 to Justin Smoak. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and manager Brad Ausmus visited Norris, who was then pulled from the game. Norris walked gingerly with Rand straight to the Tigers' clubhouse in the right-field corner. Acquired from Toronto in the David Price trade last July, Norris is competing with Shane Greene and Matt Boyd for a spot in Detroit's rotation. While his repertoire has been solid, his results have been inconsistent.
Detroit Tigers 1. Anthony Gose (L) CF 2. Jose Iglesias (R) SS 3. Justin Upton (R) LF 4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 5. Steven Moya (L) DH 6. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B 7. James McCann (R) C 8. John Mayberry Jr. (R) 1B 9. Andrew Romine (S) 2B _______________________________Boyd vs Dickey 1:07__________________ Toronto Blue Jays 1. Kevin Pillar (R) CF 2. Darwin Barney (R) SS 3. Andy Burns (R) 3B 4. Chris Colabello (R) DH 5. Justin Smoak (S) 1B 6. Junior Lake (R) LF 7. Domonic Brown (L) RF 8. David Adams (R) 2B 9. Josh Thole (L) C
Matt Boyd struggles, Nick Castellanos homers in loss to Toronto DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Matt Boyd has a shot at earning a starting rotation spot for the Detroit Tigers. But he didn't do much to build on his resume Thursday afternoon. Boyd surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work Thursday afternoon in a 6-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Nick Castellanos homered for the Tigers. Boyd needed 82 pitches to record 10 outs and threw 32 pitches while facing seven batters in the second inning.
Tigers take on the Braves today... 1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B 2. Jose Iglesias (R) SS 3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 1B 4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 5. Justin Upton (R) LF 6. Nate Schierholtz (L) DH 7. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B 8. James McCann (R) C 9. Andrew Romine (S) CF
JUSTIN UPTON HOME RUN!! His 2nd HR of the game and spring training to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead in the 6th...
Holaday Traded ! LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Detroit Tigers needed to make a move involving a catcher. They did it Tuesday night. The Tigers obtained veteran catcher Bobby Wilson and minor-league pitcher Myles Jaye on Tuesday in a trade that sent catcher Bryan Holaday to the Texas Rangers. Holaday, a Texas native who played college ball at Texas Christian University, was grateful for his time in Detroit but happy to be headed home.
J.D. Martinez hits three home runs, Logan Kensing pitches well in win over Yankees LAKELAND, Fla. -- Both teams used mostly minor league pitchers in the game. J.D. Martinez and the Detroit Tigers offense made the pitchers for the New York Yankees pay. Martinez hit three of his team's five home runs Thursday afternoon in a 10-6 victory over a split-squad New York Yankees team. Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler also hit home runs for the Tigers. Tigers right-hander Logan Kensing threw strikes and pitched effectively in two shutout innings. He started the game in place of left-hander Kyle Ryan, who was scratched due to illness. The Tigers have 26 players on the roster, not counting six guys who appear to be headed for the disabled list, so it appears that the final spot will go to either Kensing or Lendy Castillo. They are both non-roster invitees who entered spring training as long shots to make the opening day roster. Castillo entered the game in the third in relief of Kensing and walked the first batter he faced. He surrendered a two-run home run to Austin Romine in the fourth inning. (MLive)
As opening day draws near, I got to thinking about how I predict the Detroit Tigers will do. My prediction is 84-78 (tied for 2nd place in the AL Central). I decided to see what other predictions are out there. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/seasonpreview_tigers/no-15-detroit-tigers It appears I am not alone in my prediction. What say ye Will? What say you stlctrn? Lulz? Cutter? Do any of you have a prediction?
I'll go with 90-72 and they win the central... but, only if they stay healthy. I think a lot depends on how VMart and Cabrera hold up, especially VMart. Victor will push this team at clean-up if he can stay in the lineup. Cabrera will be Cabrera and JD Martinez is going to mash and show the MLB who he really is. Pitching will play a huge role of course and Greene looked good. Im hoping for a great year from Zimmermann also. Sanchez and Verlander have to be the pitchers they were before injury and late last year. I know im being super positive and a homer, but i expect good things from this team. The only set back from making the Tigers pennant winners is going to be how healthy and consistent the lineup and rotation can be.
