Tigers at Braves
The Detroit Tigers have won consecutive games for the first time since April 23 and look for three in a row when they begin a weekend road series Friday against the Atlanta Braves. While it’s been a difficult start for the Tigers, who entered Thursday’s day off 15 ½ games out in the American League Central, Brandon Dixon continues providing a spark by delivering the go-ahead homer in Wednesday’s 4-2 win at Baltimore - raising his average to .306.
One season after hitting .178 as a rookie with Cincinnati, Dixon has slugged three go-ahead homers in the past three weeks for Detroit while seeing time at first base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter. The Tigers are 2-8 in interleague play this season entering the weekend at Atlanta, where the Braves were swept in a two-game series against Washington but have won 12 of their past 18 contests and sit three games out in the National League East. The lone highlight of Wednesday’s 14-4 blowout loss for Atlanta was left fielder Austin Riley’s seventh homer - a grand slam - in his 14th major-league game. Riley is hitting .375 with a 1.192 OPS and 20 RBIs since making his debut May 15.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (2-4, 2.97 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (1-3, 5.67)
Turnbull is expected to return from the bereavement list to make his sixth start of May, looking for his first win of the month while pitching to a 3.45 ERA - a number helped by the fact he allowed five unearned runs in a May 16 loss against Oakland. The 26-year-old gave up four runs on seven hits over seven innings with one walk and eight strikeouts in his last start on May 26 against the New York Mets. Turnbull, who is limiting right-handed hitters to a .208 average, has earned both of his victories on the road.
Foltynewicz notched his first victory of the season last time out, as the 2018 NL All-Star continues rounding into form after elbow soreness and a slow start to 2019. The 27-year-old held St. Louis to one unearned run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts on May 24, and in his past two starts has surrendered two earned runs on eight hits across 12 innings with 10 strikeouts and zero walks. Foltynewicz is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four home starts, giving up eight homers over 21 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit RHP Shane Greene recorded his AL-leading 18th save Wednesday, and in his past nine games has allowed no earned runs (five unearned, in one outing), five hits and eight strikeouts across nine innings to lower his ERA to 1.13 on the season.
2. Atlanta CF Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out twice Wednesday, and is 4-for-32 with four singles, two walks and 13 strikeouts in his past seven games.
3. Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera enters the weekend with 2,731 career hits, one behind Tony Perez for 59th on the all-time list and four behind Goose Goslin for 58th.