Tarik Skubal continued his comeback from elbow surgery by throwing in the outfield in Baltimore.
Tarik Skubal continued his comeback from elbow surgery by throwing in the outfield in Baltimore.
Baltimore – The Tigers will have to wait an extra day before they can attempt to snap a seven-game losing streak.
The game against the Orioles scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday was postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Sunday. The first game will be at 12:35 p.m., the second at 6:05 p.m.
There will likely be a couple of roster moves on Sunday morning.
Left-handed reliever Brant Hurter, who appeared to injure something in his lower back after delivering a pitch Friday night during the Tigers’ 7-4 loss, had imaging done after the game and the Tigers were awaiting results Saturday.
It’s possible he will need a stint on the 15-day injured list.
The Tigers will also be adding a pitcher to serve as the 27th man for the double-header.
Lefty Drew Sommers was with the team on Saturday, so he would likely fill one of those two roles – either as the extra pitcher or to take Hurter’s spot in the bullpen.
A 40-man roster move may also be needed. The Tigers were still listing TBD as the starter for Game 2 on Saturday, but most likely, that will be right-hander Troy Melton, who is also with the team in Baltimore.
Melton has been working his way back from elbow inflammation since early in spring.
If he is activated off the 60-day IL, a corresponding move will have to be made to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
The Tigers managed to get some work in during the rain Saturday afternoon.
Tarik Skubal threw a bullpen and remains on track to throw to hitters on Tuesday at Comerica Park. Also, second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) did his physical therapy and some agility work on the field.
Tigers at Orioles, doubleheader, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
TV/Radio: Detroit Sports Net, 97.1, 107.9
Game 1, 12:35 p.m.
LHP Framber Valdez (2-3, 4.58), Tigers: Two of his last three starts have been wobbly. He lasted just five innings against the Guardians last time out, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks. His biggest issue has been the sinker. It’s the pitch he throws the most (46.5%), the one he uses to set up his offspeed and spin, and he his command has been inconsistent. Opponents are hitting .310 with a .440 slugging percentage (.512 expected slug). There’s been more middle or miss recently than is his norm.
RHP Brandon Young (3-1, 4.25), Orioles: He’s allowed three runs or less in five of his six starts this season, including holding the White Sox scoreless on two hits over five innings last time out. He’s got a sneaky four-seam fastball (94 mph) that holding hitters to a .152 average an a .278 weighted on-base average. He will mix a splitter and curveball off the four-seamer to lefties and use sinkers and sliders against righties.
Game 2, 6:05 p.m.
TBD, Tigers: The expectation is that Troy Melton will make his season debut. He was shut down early in spring with inflammation in his right elbow. Surgery wasn’t required and after three months of physical therapy, he was able to build his pitch-count up to 70 pitches over four rehab starts. Off an upper-90s four-seamer and sinker, he will mix sliders and cutters to right-handed hitters, splitters and curveballs to lefties. He made an impressive debut last season, going 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 16 games (four starts).
LHP Trevor Rogers (2-5, 6.87), Orioles: It’s been a struggle. He’s winless in his last five starts, allowing 27 runs (25 earned) over 19 innings with 10 walks and five homers. That stretch was interrupted by a stint on the injured list while he battled a flu virus. Right-handed hitters have been beating him up (.339 average, .529 slug, .924 OPS), doing most of the damage against his four-seam fastball (.319 average, .532 slug) and changeup (.349 average, .488 slug).
–Chris McCosky
@cmccosky
