Issues For Tigers?
Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland had some harsh words for Jason Grilli after the reliever criticized the team’s chemistry following his trade to the Colorado Rockies.
Recently, however, the Tigers have shown signs of living up to expectations moreso than the Rockies.
The last two World Series losers begin a three-game interleague series Friday night as the Tigers look to take advantage of the floundering Rockies at Comerica Park.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Detroit -121 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 83% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -121 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Both teams were playing poorly when Detroit (38-40) dealt Grilli to Colorado (32-47) on May 1 for minor league pitcher Zachary Simons. Grilli, who had a 3.29 ERA in nine games with the Tigers this season, said Detroit had problems in its clubhouse because it hurt its chemistry by getting rid of players such as Sean Casey.
Leyland responded with anger.
"You have to be kidding me. I mean, please," Leyland said. "Jason Grilli ought to just worry about Colorado.
"Jason Grilli’s not here any longer because Jason Grilli didn’t pitch good under pressure situations and didn’t pitch very well in Detroit. You want to tell it like it is? When players want to start talking, I’ll start talking."
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Though Grilli has pitched well for the Rockies, going 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 appearances, it’s questionable whether he’s finding things more enjoyable with the defending NL champions. They have lost four straight and are mired in fourth place in the NL West with the third-worst record in the league.
Detroit, meanwhile, has won 14 of 18 games after being as many as 10 games out of first place. The Tigers, who lost the 2006 World Series to St. Louis, have pulled within five games of the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
"We’re trying to creep back into this thing," Leyland said. "We’ve made some headway."
One reason for the surge is the improvement shown by leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson, who was batting .238 before Detroit’s push. He has raised his average 44 points in the last 18 games by batting .387 (24-for-62) with 11 runs scored and seven RBIs.
Granderson went 7-for-13 as Detroit won its fifth straight series by taking two of three games from St. Louis, including a four-hit effort in which he scored the winning run in a 3-2, 10-inning victory on Thursday.
Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield went 6-for-13 in the series in his first action after missing nearly a month with an oblique strain on his left side.
Colorado was victimized by its poor starting pitching in a three-game sweep at Kansas City earlier this week. Only one of its starters lasted past the fifth inning and the trio combined for a 7.53 ERA against the Royals.
The Rockies will turn to their last starter to win in Ubaldo Jimenez (2-7, 4.52 ERA), who gave up one run and two hits in eight innings on Saturday in a 7-1 victory over the New York Mets – his first win since April 8.
"Nothing was hit real hard. He was fantastic tonight. Very impressive outing," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.
Colorado has lost all eight of Jimenez’s road starts, with the right-hander going 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA in those outings. He has never faced Detroit.
Tigers rookie right-hander Eddie Bonine (1-0, 5.84) will make his third career start. He allowed two runs over seven innings in a 6-2 loss at San Diego last Friday.
"I’m starting to feel a little bit more comfortable, and I have to continue to build on some of the positives of the outings before," Bonine told the Tigers’ official Web site.
The Rockies are 9-3 all-time against the Tigers – all from 2003-05.
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