The Detroit Tigers will try to do something they have not done in almost a month when they face the Tampa Bay Rays for the middle game of their three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday: Win two in a row.
Detroit beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 on May 2 and 7-1 on May 3. After that, the rest of the month was a disaster as the Tigers won just four of 25 games, giving them the worst record in the American League through the end of May.
On Monday, Detroit survived a 10-9 cliffhanger against the Rays after leading 6-0 through three innings. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was busy throughout the game, using seven pitchers to end the team’s four-game skid. Tyler Holton, Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest all pitched more than one inning in relief.
“We went through almost our entire ‘pen, except for (Emmanuel) De Jesus,” Hinch said. “… Obviously, didn’t want to do a bunch of one-plusses for guys like Will and Finney, but that’s what it took to win the game.”
Before Monday, the Tigers had lost 12 of their past 13 series openers.
Still, the bullpen could be taxed for the second game with Jack Flaherty (0-7, 5.81 ERA) seeking his first victory since Sept. 10, a span of 14 starts. The right-hander has lost five straight outings, including a setback Thursday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels when he gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Flaherty permitted six hits and a walk, though he did post nine strikeouts.
Flaherty is also seeking his first win against the Rays, having gone 0-2 with an 8.66 ERA in four starts against them. On July 8, 2025, he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk. He registered eight strikeouts but did not get a decision in the Tigers’ 4-2 win.
On Monday, Detroit’s Dillon Dingler went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs. In eight career games against the Rays, the catcher is now hitting .409 (9-for-22).
The Rays have also struggled of late, losing six of their past eight.
Left-hander Steven Matz (4-2, 4.67 ERA) goes for Tampa Bay on Tuesday. He last pitched Wednesday in Baltimore, getting tagged with the loss after yielding six runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings as the Orioles won 11-2.
In seven lifetime games (four starts) against the Tigers, Matz has no decisions and a 2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. Last season, Matz made three scoreless relief appearances covering four innings vs. Detroit.
The Rays had two starters leave the Monday loss.
Manager Kevin Cash took out Taylor Walls in the third inning because the shortstop has been dealing with tightness in his left hamstring. Walls is considered day-to-day.
In the fourth inning, Chandler Simpson exited after his helmet fell off as he slid into second base, hitting him in the mouth. A bloodied Simpson came out for a pinch runner.
“I think Chandler’s going to be OK,” Cash said postgame. “He got some stitches in his lip, but he’s going to be in the lineup (Tuesday), as we speak right now.”
The Rays left fielder went 1-for-2 in the series opener. He is hitting .429 (6-for-14) in four games against the Tigers since arriving in the majors last season.
–Field Level Media
