The Detroit Tigers started a ten-game home stand with the Blue Jays. One reliever has a setback in his rehab and Detroit continues to sign minor league arms and more in this week’s Sunday notes.

These past two days at Comerica Park were a good mix of Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers fans. The weather finally cooperated after steady rain showers on Friday night. After the 10-1 loss on Friday night, Detroit bounced back behind Beau Brieske, who threw 5.2 innings of shutout baseball to gain his first major league win. 

Sunday’s game featured a ceremony for Miguel Cabrera on his 3,000th hit. The crowd booed both Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch and GM Al Avila as their names were announced, but former manager Jim Leyland got the usual big pop from the Tigers faithful. The fans were treated to a surprise as former Tiger Victor Martinez was on hand to present the 3,000th hit ball to Cabrera. 

As for the game, Toronto’s heavy right-handed lineup wore out Tarik Skubal and Toronto took the series 6-0. Skubal left after the 4th inning after throwing 76 pitches. His final line of the game: 4IP 7H 4ER 2BB 5K. 

Toronto got the scoring started after a single by Bo Bichette in the 3rd before Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit a two-run shot to left to give the Jays the 2-0 lead. After striking out Alejandro Kirk, Skubal gave up three doubles to Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr and Cavan Biggio as that pushed across two more runs to make the score 4-0. The Jays would score two more in the 8th to finish their scoring on the day.

The Tigers inconsistent offense struck again as they had two hits on the day. This was the 8th time this season they were shutout. 

Up next: Chicago White Sox

The Tigers welcome the White Sox for a three-game series starting Monday. Along with Detroit, Chicago has one of the worst run differentials in the league. Chicago is underachieving and manager Tony La Russa is feeling the heat from the fans. What does not help his cause was the strange decision that left baseball fans as a collective scratching their heads. 

Last week against the Dodgers, La Russa decided to intentionally walked Trea Turner on a 1-2 count. Keep in mind that the league average for a 1-2 count is .167/.220/.258. The next batter, Max Muncy, hit a three-run home run to increase the LA lead 10 to 5. 

Here are the pitching probables for the series:

Monday: Johnny Cueto (0-3, 3.74 ERA) vs Rony Garcia (0-1, 4.50 ERA)

Tuesday: TBA vs TBA

Wednesday: Dylan Cease (4-3, 3.14 ERA) vs Alex Faedo (1-2, 2.92 ERA)

Detroit Tigers minor league notes

• Detroit signed right-hander reliever Kyle Zurak and sent him to Erie. Zurak was pitching for Somerset, the Yankees Double-A affiliate. He is mainly a sinker and slider heavy pitcher.
• RHP Franklin Perez started his rehab assignment for the FCL Tigers. 
• After his start on Friday, Elvin Rodriguez was optioned back to Toledo