Blue Jays at Tigers
Both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays entered the All-Star break among the worst teams in the American League, and neither club has done much since to shed that label. A pair of struggling squads hope to generate a bit of momentum at the expense of the other beginning Friday when the Blue Jays visit the Tigers in the opener of a three-game set.
Toronto and Detroit ended the first half with 57 losses apiece and have only seen their fortunes continue to sink since then, as the Blue Jays (36-62) are tied with Kansas City for the third-worst record in the AL, while the Tigers (29-63) are closing in on Baltimore for the worst record in the majors. Detroit finished a 1-6 road trip with a 6-3 setback in Cleveland on Thursday, wrapping up a four-game sweep for the Indians in which the Tigers' majors-worst offense compiled five runs over the final three games. Toronto is entering the final leg of its 10-game road trip coming out of the break and fell to 2-5 during the trek following Thursday's 5-0 loss in Boston. Toronto and Detroit are meeting up for the first time since the opening series of the season when the Tigers sandwiched a pair of extra-inning victories around a couple of shutout wins for the Blue Jays.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (5-10, 3.25 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (0-6, 7.01)
Stroman enjoyed his fourth quality start in his last five outings Sunday in New York, but he took the loss against the Yankees anyway despite yielding three runs and striking out seven over six innings. The first-time All-Star, who had not pitched since June 29 in part due to some cramping in his left pectoral muscle, is 3-4 with a 2.98 ERA in eight road turns. Stroman tossed seven scoreless innings in a no-decision on Opening Day versus the Tigers and is 1-1 with a 2.17 ERA against them in four career starts.
Zimmermann is off to a miserable start in July, surrendering a total of 14 runs on 21 hits over 7 1/3 innings through two outings. The 33-year-old Wisconsin native, who is winless in his last 15 outings, was fortunate to end up with a no-decision Sunday in Kansas City after getting roughed up for seven runs and eight hits in four frames. Zimmermann's best start of the season came in a no-decision on Opening Day at Toronto, which managed only one hit against him over seven scoreless innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Tigers are 12-32 at home and have dropped 12 of their last 13 contests at Comerica Park.
2. Entering Thursday, Toronto OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led the majors in total bases (124) and ranked second in homers (17) since his recall on May 24.
3. After going hitless in his previous 15 at-bats, Detroit INF/OF Niko Goodrum is 8-for-13 with a homer and three RBIs since.