It’s hard to imagine it being much better for the Detroit Tigers entering Wednesday night’s game against the host Baltimore Orioles.
The Tigers hold a 44-24 record, putting them 20 games above .500 for the first time since 2013.
Detroit manager AJ Hinch’s team didn’t have a letdown following an intense weekend series at home against the Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won two of three games in the battle of division leaders.
In Baltimore on Tuesday, the Tigers won 5-3 in the series opener, sending the Orioles to their third loss in the last four games. Detroit has won three of its last four outings.
Every time since May 25 that the Tigers have scored at least three runs, they’ve won the game.
And they have first baseman Spencer Torkelson putting up big offensive numbers. He homered for the 16th time this season on Tuesday night, giving him the most long balls among American League first basemen.
“I just want to attack every single day and win every single day,” Torkelson told The Detroit News on Tuesday.
The Orioles could be encouraged by a couple of developments with third baseman Jordan Westburg and outfielder Cedric Mullins coming off the injury list at the beginning of the homestand. Westburg homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth following his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.
“I was really happy to see him have success up here,” Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson said. “And yeah, glad to see it right off the start.”
Westburg said it feels different this June with the Orioles in a big hole in the standings — last place in the American League East. But he’s taking an optimistic approach.
“I’m pretty confident in this group,” he said. “I’m going to try to focus on the positives and try to stack one day at a time, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the year. It’s a long season. I know I’ve said that, and I’m sure you all are tired of hearing that, but it is and there’s a lot of things that can change.”
Mullins said he’s hoping for an encouraging stretch for the Orioles because many roster regulars are getting back in action.
“Guys coming back healthy, especially this early in the season,” he said. “We’re hoping for good things out of ourselves.”
Looking to stay in a groove, right-hander Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA) will draw the pitching start for the Orioles on Wednesday. He has won his last two starts, covering a total of 13 innings and allowing three runs with 13 strikeouts and one walk.
In his most recent start, last Thursday at Seattle, Eflin pitched six innings, giving up three runs and eight hits in Baltimore’s 4-3 victory.
He has faced the Tigers twice in his career, going 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA.
The Tigers will send right-hander Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91) to the mound. After a sizzling start to the season, he has gone three consecutive outings without a decision.
Mize has made three career starts against Baltimore, going 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA. In his five-season career, he has won more games against only the Kansas City Royals (three times).
–Field Level Media
