The Detroit Tigers grabbed a nail-biting 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, putting them in prime position to clinch the four-game home series on Saturday afternoon. Tarik Skubal absolutely dominated, carving up the Royals lineup over 7 1/3 innings of work. The offense, gotta be honest, just barely scraped by for runs for the second night in a row, but hey, a win is a win when you’re going for the series!
Mize Hopes to Stay Steady Against a Struggling Wacha
With the series win firmly in the crosshairs, right-hander Casey Mize gets the ball for the Tigers on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been a bit of a rollercoaster this month, with his results averaging out to a solid 3.45 ERA and a 3.11 FIP over 15 2/3 innings. He’s given up 17 hits, including one home run, walked five batters, and punched out 14 over that span. His season numbers overall are 4-6 with a 2.79 ERA, 2.62 FIP, and 2.7 fWAR across 15 games and 80.2 innings, showing a 25.6 K% and 5.9 BB%. He’s gotta bring his best.
On the other side, the Kansas City Royals are sending out veteran righty Michael Wacha. The 35-year-old has had a solid run in his 14th big league season, with a 5-7 record and a 3.66 ERA over 20 games and 125.1 innings for the year. His 19.8 K%, 7.1 BB%, 4.03 FIP, and 1.9 fWAR are all decent numbers. BUT. Here’s the kicker: July has been a nightmare for him. He’s staring down a 5.91 ERA and a 5.36 FIP over his last three starts, covering just 10 2/3 innings. He’s given up nine hits, two home runs, and five walks, plus a hit-by-pitch, while only striking out 10. That’s a huge shift from his earlier performance.
Can Mize Get Revenge for an Earlier Loss?
It’s interesting because Wacha actually faced the Tigers earlier this year and absolutely shut them down. He tossed seven frames of scoreless ball, only giving up a pair of hits and walks, striking out six, hitting a batter, and throwing a wild pitch. The Royals ended up winning that game 5-1 at Comerica Park. So, while his July numbers are rough, he’s proven he can pitch well against this Tigers lineup. Can Mize get some revenge, or will Wacha somehow rediscover his form from earlier this season?
The Tigers, currently sitting at 50-54, are looking to take down the 43-62 Royals. You can catch all the action on Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, or the Tigers Radio Network. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET at Comerica Park in Detroit. This isn’t just another Saturday game; it’s a chance to put a series away at home. Let’s see if Mize can deliver and if Wacha’s rough July continues!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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