The Detroit Tigers have held the top record in the American League for more than a month, but they seem to have a persistent trouble spot — winning on Saturdays.
After going 5-0 in Saturday games in April, the Tigers are a combined 0-7 on Saturdays in May and June. Detroit will have a chance to snap that slump on Saturday against the host Tampa Bay Rays.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch believes his team will have its hands full after using four relievers on Friday in a 14-8 loss during the opener of the three-game weekend series.
“It’s not a great spot,” Hinch said, “but we’ll be fine. I mean, we’ll have an off day on Monday, and we’re going to grind through these two games (Saturday and Sunday) and try to win this series. So these guys will be able to pitch. We’ve got guys that will step up. And obviously, we need a good outing out of the beginning of the game.”
Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 3.97 ERA) will make his second start of the year on Saturday, his first career appearance versus Tampa Bay.
Last time out, Gipson-Long allowed three hits and two runs (one earned) across three relief innings in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. He will appear in his fourth game this season after missing all of 2024 following right elbow surgery and hip surgery.
He and the Tigers will try to end the Saturday slump that has seen them get outscored 42-13 in the seven defeats.
The Rays will look to carry over their offensive explosion from Friday when they pounded out 16 hits. All nine players in the lineup had at least one hit.
Yandy Diaz is powering the surge that has seen the Rays win six of their past eight games. He went 3-for-4 with two homers on Friday, and he has an 11-game hitting streak in which he is 22-for-47 (.468) with four homers and 10 RBIs.
“To me, for the past month, we’ve been the best team in baseball,” Diaz said through Rays interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “And it says a lot about us.”
Since May 20, the Rays are an major-league-best 21-8, and they hammered the big-league-leading Tigers in the series opener.
“I think what it says most is that we’re a good team,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Other than that, I don’t know how to say it. But we’re a good team, and certainly you’ve got to find ways to beat good teams. And right now I’m happy that we are. …
“You’re always looking to continue to improve. I don’t think we’re content with where we’re at, but we’re happy with the way we’re playing. Just want to see that consistently show up night after night.”
Tampa Bay’s Ryan Pepiot (4-6, 3.11 ERA) is scheduled to make his 16th start of the season on Saturday. He is 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA in his past five starts after an impressive outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Pepiot threw a career-high eight innings in the Rays’ 7-1 home win, permitting one run on four hits and two walks while striking out a season-high 11.
In three career appearances (two starts) against Detroit, Pepiot is 0-1 with a 2.12 ERA over 17 innings.
–Field Level Media
