Tigers at Blue Jays
The Detroit Tigers applied the brakes on an epic slide that saw them lose each of the last 11 contests in June. The Tigers (37-48) look to pick up speed by collecting their second straight win of the new month and salvaging a split of their four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays (39-44) on Monday afternoon.
Nicholas Castellanos went deep for the fourth time in eight games with his fourth career grand slam to highlight Detroit's 9-1 romp of Toronto on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who has two homers among his four hits and six RBIs in the last two contests, is a robust 13-for-32 with 12 RBIs and seven runs scored in his last eight games. Justin Smoak followed up a home run in back-to-back contests in this series with an RBI double for Toronto, which fell for only the second time in 12 home games. The 31-year-old's hot streak hasn't extended to meetings with Monday starter Mike Fiers, against whom he is 1-for-10 with five strikeouts.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Detroit, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (5-5, 4.04 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.00)
Fiers dropped his second straight start and fell to 1-3 in his last eight trips to the mound Wednesday despite allowing one run in seven innings of a hard-luck 3-0 setback versus Oakland. The 33-year-old has struggled on the road this season with a 5.15 ERA, nearly two full runs worse than his total at Comerica Park (3.19). Rogers Centre also hasn't been too kind to Fiers, who has posted an 0-2 mark and 5.91 ERA in two career starts there.
Borucki acquitted himself well in his major league debut, permitting two runs in six innings in a 7-0 loss to Houston. "I thought he was fantastic against a great hitting ballclub. They put pressure on him, and he didn't cave," manager John Gibbons said of the 24-year-old, who is considered the Blue Jays' top left-handed prospect. Borucki's time could be limited with Aaron Sanchez expected to return after a right finger contusion landed him on the 10-day disabled list.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar is 7-for-18 with three runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.
2. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias has four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the series after entering the set mired in a 3-for-15 stretch over his previous five games.
3. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez has eight hits and four runs scored in his last eight games.