Andrew Sears got absolutely rocked Friday night, giving up a three-run homer after a walk and three singles. That brutal eighth inning barrage against the Pirates, a meltdown the Tigers barely survived in an 8-7 win, was a harsh reminder of how high the stakes get in the big leagues. And just like that, the energetic lefty is optioned, clearing a spot for Justin Verlander’s anticipated return.
Sears Heads to the Offseason with a Lot to Work On
You gotta feel for the rookie. Sears went from a clean seventh inning to having two outs and nobody on in the eighth, only to blow it. Manager AJ Hinch was quick to defend him, saying, “Some of the damage he gave up is not indicative of him not being good enough. It’s just the execution is heightened when you get to this level.” Hinch is “really impressed” by what Sears offers, but with a 7.11 ERA in six games and eight walks in just 19 innings, the numbers tell a story of a tough first taste. This kid’s got “real stuff,” an “energetic delivery,” and “velocity,” but Hinch made it clear: “execution becomes really key for him. He’s got to tighten up some of his secondary pitches.” You just know this experience is gonna “fuel his winter toward trying to make our team next year.” Good. It needs to.
Verlander’s Back, Flaherty’s Looming, and a Rookie Is On the Mound
To bring Verlander back, the Tigers also moved outfielder Kerry Carpenter to the 60-day IL, opening up a spot on the 40-man roster. And get this: they’ll need *another* move on Sunday to accommodate the return of right-hander Jack Flaherty, who’s been out since July 23. This roster shuffle is intense!
Sunday’s game against the Pirates at Comerica Park at 3:10 p.m. is going to be a must-watch. On the mound for Pittsburgh is Jared Jones, a right-hander who’s been lights out after elbow surgery. He’s 3-0 in his last four starts, giving up just three runs in 25 innings with 35 strikeouts and four walks. This dude’s a fastball bully, averaging 98 mph with a nasty spin rate and holding hitters to a .194 average. He blanked the Cardinals on one hit over seven innings recently.
For the Tigers, it’s River Ryan taking the hill. This will be just his second start! Acquired from the Dodgers in that Tarik Skubal trade, Ryan impressed in his debut Monday, tossing three scoreless innings against the Nationals with two hits and three strikeouts. He’s got a lively 96-97 mph four-seamer and an effective changeup. The expectation is another three- to four-inning outing.
Can Ryan make another statement and show he belongs? And with Verlander making his “finale,” you know he’s gonna bring the heat. This team is battling, and every pitch matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply