Both teams have put on a power display during the first two games of the weekend series between the Cincinnati Reds and the host Detroit Tigers.
Detroit blasted four home runs in an 11-5 romp during the series opener on Friday. Cincinnati countered with four long balls on Saturday while rolling to an 11-1 win. The series will be decided on Sunday afternoon.
Cincinnati’s dynamic shortstop, Elly De La Cruz, has homered in each of the last three games.
“I still think there’s more, which is probably unfair to him because I’m sure everybody is always saying that. I do believe that,” manager Terry Francona said. “His talent level and his wanting to be good. … I do think there’s more in there.”
Wade Miley, whose name has been in the news in recent days for unflattering reasons, is scheduled to start the series finale for the Reds.
The 38-year-old Miley addressed an accusation that he supplied former teammate Tyler Skaggs — who died of an overdose in 2019 — with prescription drugs when they were teammates with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and 2013.
“I’m not going to sit here and talk about things that somebody might have said about me or what not,” Miley said. “I was never a witness for any of this. I’ve never been accused of any wrongdoing.”
Miley was named by Skaggs’ former agent in a deposition conducted as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ family.
While controversy swirls around him, the left-hander is just trying to remain in the majors. After pitching just two games for Milwaukee last season, Miley suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
He signed a minor league contract with the Reds and struggled in seven starts at that level. Miley opted out of his contract on June 1 but was re-signed on June 4 to a major league deal.
He surrendered four runs and six hits in two innings in a relief role that night against Milwaukee. In his first start at the major league level this season on Monday, Miley (1-0, 9.00 ERA) lasted long enough to pick up the win. He gave up three runs and five hits with four walks at Cleveland in Cincinnati’s 7-4 victory.
“It feels good just to get back out there and compete,” Miley said. “When the Guardians came back, our offense answered right back and shut their momentum down.”
Miley is filling in for Hunter Greene, who is on the injured list. He’s 2-0 with a 6.16 ERA in six career starts against Detroit.
Detroit starter Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 4.32) has made two appearances since elbow and hip surgeries derailed his 2024 season. In his last outing, Gipson-Long came on in relief and limited Baltimore to one run and three hits while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings.
Gipson-Long will be tasked with cooling off the Reds’ hot bats. Cincinnati has won six of its last eight games.
He’ll be facing the Reds for the first time.
“They did a good job laying off some tough pitches and when they got some in the zone, they hit a few out of the park,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said after Saturday’s contest.
–Field Level Media
