Writer: Gage O'Leary
Twitter: @det_news
Twitter: @DeepShotSports
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The Tigers (2-4) will play their first road games Thursday through Sunday against the Kansas City Royals (2-3) at Kauffman Stadium. It went back & fourth last season between the 2 teams, Kansas City ended up winning the season series with a 11-8 record vs the Tigers, however the Tigers did sweep KC twice last season, once on the road...
Headlines:
No update on Grossman's injury:
As of me writing this article, no update has been posted about Robbie Grossman, who missed the series finale against the Redsoxs on Wednesday. Grossman tried to get back to first base on a pop-up that resulted in a double play and after popping up from his slide he left the game with Groin/Back tightness. Daz Cameron joined the taxi squad after Grossman's injury...
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Tork get's first Homerun out of the way:
As you'd expect after he got his first hit they'd start to come in bunches, and on Wednesday, 24 hours after his first hit, Torkleson who is the Tigers #1 prospect hit an absolute no doubt HR to LF. It helped Detroit spark what was almost a remarkable comeback after being down 7-1 vs Boston, Detroit lost 9-7...
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Bobby Witt Jr. hype train
Bobby Witt Jr. has about everything you'd want to see to make a star player and that's why so many have followed his career. Much like how Detroit decided to take Spencer Torkleson North after Spring training, Witt made the Royals roster, and like Torkleson, he's had a slow start. He'll no doubt be one to watch as he could be a thorn in the Tigers side for years to come...
Pitching for the Tigers:
Thursday: Casey Mize, 0-1, 7.20 ERA, 2 K's
Friday: Tarik Skubal, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 3 K's
Saturday: Matt Manning, 0-0, 1.50 ERA, 2 K's
Sunday: Tyler Alexander, 0-0, 5.29 ERA, 4 K's
Pitching for the Royals:
Thursday: Zack Greinke, 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 1 K
Friday: Brad Keller, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 K's
Saturday: Kris Bubic 0-1, 67.50 ERA, 0 K's
Sunday: Brady Singer, 0-0, 12.00 ERA, 3 K's
Players to Watch, Tigers:
#1 Miguel Cabrera
Miggy has tormented the Kansas City Royals for years, especially when they play on the road at Kauffman Stadium. In 2012 Miggy had a standing ovation from the Royals crowd after earning the Triple Crown, Cabrera still holds the last Triple Crown since 1967 when Redsoxs' Carl Yastrzemski did it all them years ago...
#2 Jonathan Schoop
Jonathan Schoop is starting to heat up and be the guy we seen last year prior to earning a 2-Year contract extension. Schoop is batting .217, with 3 RBI's, and the Homerun on Wednesday, he has a .685 OPS. He's been making solid contact even when getting out. He's had a solid career vs the Royals...
#3 Casey Mize
With Casey Mize sky's the limit, the 2018 1st overall pick is expected to have a breakout year in 2022. Through out his young career Casey Mize's best starts have came against the Kansas City Royals, he is 2-1 with a 4.88 ERA in Six starts against KC in his career. Last season he took a No-Hitter into the late innings vs the Royals at Kauffman Stadium...
Players to watch, Royals:
#1 Bobby Witt Jr.
I mentioned earlier Bobby Witt Jr's ceiling. This will be the first time the Tigers will get a look at him. He was drafted as a Shortstop for the Royals but he's been their everyday 3rd basemen early in his big league career. It will be fun to watch him go against Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning throughout this 4 game series...
#2 Salvador Perez
Much like Miggy has tormented KC, Salvador Perez has tormented the Tigers in his career. The Veteran catcher is in his 11th season. He's spent every season of his career with the Royals. Perez has hit Homeruns against Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Tyler Alexander, 3 of the 4 Tigers starters in this series...
#3 Whit Merrifield
Whit Merrifield has been one of the biggest thorn's in Detroit's side the last few years, he's an extra base machine and a tough out. It'll be interesting to see if the Tigers rotation can slow him down this in this series...
Thanks for the read!
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