Tigers-Athletics Preview
Jordan Zimmermann has been one of baseball's best starters in his first year with the Detroit Tigers, who are in the midst of their best stretch of the season. They'll have to keep that roll going without him for at least one start, though. Matt Boyd will replace the injured Zimmermann against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday as the Tigers seek their 10th victory in 12 tries. Zimmermann is 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA after signing a big free-agent deal in the offseason. When he'll start next remains a mystery, however, as he deals with a Grade 1 right groin strain. Detroit (24-23) hasn't put Zimmermann on the disabled list in hopes that he'll be ready for his next scheduled outing Tuesday. Boyd will get the call in this one after the Tigers made him skip his start with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday in case he was needed. Boyd had a 6.57 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance for Detroit last season but has only one outing in the majors this year, giving up two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen against Cleveland on April 24. "At this point, it's just refining my game," Boyd said. "It's all refining little parts of my game and just getting better every single day.' I believe that every day you show up to the yard, you can get better, and that's what I've stuck with." The left-hander has a 2.06 ERA in eight starts with Toledo and struck out a season-high nine in his last outing. "It's an honor that I am here," Boyd said. "There are a lot of guys down there that deserve to be up here." A solid outing from Boyd could help the Tigers continue their hot stretch after they beat the A's 4-1 on Friday. Nick Castellanos homered and Cameron Maybin doubled in a run, while James McCann and J.D. Martinez also had an RBI apiece. Oakland (20-29) scored its only run on an RBI triple from Jed Lowrie in the ninth. The A's finished with only five hits and dropped their fifth straight at home. They've lost seven of eight overall, getting outscored 45-23. Lowrie has tried to spark the offense, going 3 for 7 in two games since coming off the disabled list for a shin contusion. Jesse Hahn will take the mound looking to help Oakland snap out of its slump. Hahn (1-2, 4.07) wasn't very sharp Sunday while allowing four runs and six hits - including two homers for the second straight start - in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees. The right-hander has made four starts in two different stints with the A's and has had problems since beating Houston in his first one April 30. Hahn was fantastic in two starts against the Tigers last season, though, pitching a four-hit shutout before beating them again by giving up one run in seven innings. Martinez is 0 for 7 off Hahn. |