DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS SPLIT SERIES VS. PIRATES: The Tigers were shut out by the Pirates, 8-0, on Wednesday. Eduardo Rodriguez started for Detroit and took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Tyler Holton struck out three and allowed a hit in 2.0 scoreless frames. Offensively, Matt Vierling reached base twice, recording Detroit’s only hit of the game and drawing a walk.
GREENE MACHINE: Riley Greene posted his second consecutive three-hit game and his fifth of the season on Tuesday against the Pirates. His five three-hit performances this season is tied for second in the American League. Greene has recorded at least one hit in 16 of his last 18 games, batting .375/.416/.500 with six doubles, a homer and nine RBI. Since April 26, Greene leads the American League and ranks tied for second in the Majors in batting average, while he ranks sixth in the AL in on-base percentage.
E-ROD’S HISTORIC STREAK: Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs in 5.0 innings on Wednesday against the Pirates, snapping his streak of starts with at least 5.0 innings pitched and one-orfewer runs allowed at six. It was tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history, behind only Justin Verlander, who had seven straight starts of 5.0-or-more innings and 1-orfewer runs allowed from June 9-July 10, 2011. Over the six-start stretch, Rodriguez posted a 0.43 ERA (41.2IP/2ER). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was tied with Doug Fister (2011-12) for the second-lowest ERA over a six-start span for a Tigers pitcher since 1913, trailing only Al Benton, who had a 0.33 ERA over six
starts in 1945.
RECAPPING THE HOMESTAND: The Tigers went 2-3 on their recently completed five-game homestand, going 1-2 vs. Seattle and 1-1 vs. Pittsburgh. As a team, Detroit hit .192/.267/.263 over the five games, while the pitching staff had a 4.40 ERA (45.0IP/22ER). Individually, Riley Greene went 9×17 with three doubles on the homestand, while Zach McKinstry went 3×10.
MIGGY VS. THE NATS: Miguel Cabrera has posted impressive numbers in his career against Washington, entering tonight’s game batting .363/.451/.605 with 18 doubles, one triple, 21 homers and 83 RBI in 94 career games. Among active players with at least 50 at-bats vs. the Nationals, he ranks third in on-base percentage and fourth in batting average.
TIGERS AND NATIONALS: The Tigers and Nationals begin their only season of the series tonight. The two teams last met in 2019 in Detroit with Washington winning two-of-three games. Detroit has a 12-10 lead in the all-time series, but Washington has won four of the five meetings at Nationals Park.
INTERLEAGUE ACTION: The Tigers continue their interleague schedule tonight against the Nationals. Detroit is 10-3 against National League foes this season, including a 3-0 record against NL East teams. The Tigers have finished with a winning record against NL opponents in each of the last two seasons.
ON THE ROAD: The Tigers tonight begin a six-game road trip, which includes three games at Washington (May 19-21) and three games at Kansas City (May 22-24). Detroit has a 9-12 record away from Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .223/.287/.336 on the road, while the pitching staff has a 4.33 ERA (183.0IP/88ER).
TIGERS ON THE IL:
- RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
- OF Kerry Carpenter (right shoulder sprain, 10-day IL on April 29, retroactive to April 28)
- RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 60-day IL on April 12)
- OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
- RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
- RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
- LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
- RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 15-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
- RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 15-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #48 Matthew Boyd • 2-3, 6.47 ERA (32.0IP/23ER
- Boyd will make his eighth start of the season tonight in the series opener vs. Washington.
- Suffered the loss in his most recent start last Friday vs. Seattle, allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits with four walks and one strikeout in 1.1 innings.
- Will be making his first career appearance against the Nationals tonight…will mark the 27th different Major League team that he has pitched against…after tonight, the only three big league teams he will have not faced in his career are the Giants, Marlins and Padres.
- Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help Seattle to the playoffs…went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts in his 10 outings with the Mariners.
- Is in his second stint with the Tigers…was with the organization from 2015-21, appearing in 147 games, including 143 starts, and compiling
a 37-60 record with a 4.87 ERA (777.2IP/421ER) and 752 strikeouts.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – DETROIT TIGERS
The Nationals and Tigers will play three times in Washington D.C. this season…This is Detroit’s first visit to Nationals Park since May 9-11, 2016…The Nationals last played in Detorit, June 28-30, 2019… Jeimer Candelario spent six seasons in Detroit (2017-22)…Erasmo Ramírez appeared in 17 games with the tigers in 2021.
WE’RE COMIN’ HOME
Following a quick, three-game series in Miami, the Washington Nationals open a six-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night…It is Detroit’s first visit to Nationals Park since May 9-11, 2016.
- The Nationals will enjoy a day off on Monday before welcoming the San Diego Padres to Nationals Park for a three-game series starting Tuesday.
ROSTER MOVE
The Nationals reinstated first baseman/designated hitter Joey Meneses from the Paternity List and optioned infielder/outfielder Jake Alu to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
THE CANDY MAN
Jeimer Candelario has reached base safely in 11 of his last 16 plate appearances, going 10-for-15 (.667) with three doubles, a triple, a homer, three RBI, one walk and four runs scored across his last four games…He has at least one extra-base hit in all four games.
- He’s raised his slash line from .211/.276/.354 on May 15 to .253/.313/.432 entering play tonight.
- The 10 hits in four games are a career-best and are the most he’s ever had even in a five-game span.
- Candelario is 12-for-27 (.444) and has reached safely in 18 of 33 plate appearances (.444 OBP) over his last eight games.
CHASING 1,000
With 995 in hand, Corey Dickerson is five hits away from 1,000 for his career…When he collects hit no. 1,000, he will become the 12th player in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to record his 1,000th hit in a Nationals uniform, according to the Elias Sports Bureau…The last to do it was Brian Dozier in 2019.
STREAKS ON STREAKS
Some streaks to keep your eyes on:
- Lane Thomas has reached safely in a career-high 15 straight games and has hit safely in 13 of the 15…Thomas is hitting .323 (20-for-62) with two doubles, a triple, four homers, eight RBI, three walks, one hit by pitch, two stolen bases and 13 runs scored during this streak.
- Joey Meneses has reached safely in 10 straight games, going 16-for-42 (.381) with four doubles, a homer, 12 RBI, three walks and six runs scored during the streak…It is the second-longest on-base streak of his career behind his 11-game streak from Aug. 5-17, 2022.
LEFT IS RIGHT
The Nationals rank third among Major League clubs in batting average (.297) and fourth in on-base percentage (.361) against left-handed pitching this season.
- Luis García ranks third (.351) and Dominic Smith ranks fifth (.333) among Major League left-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers this season.
- Lane Thomas is tied for sixth in the National League with 17 hits against lefties and eighth with a .362 average against left-handed pitchers.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT DOM
In his last 19 games, Dominic Smith is hitting .354 (23-for-65) with a .434 on-base percentage (9 BB, HBP, 8 SO)…He has posted multi-hit efforts in three of the last six games.
- Smith has reached base safely in 11 consecutive games and 17 of 19 games during this stretch…The 11- game streak is the fourth-longest of his career (longest: 15 G, Aug. 5-25, 2020).
DEFENSE NOT RESTING
Thanks to strong infield defense so far this season, Nationals opponents have a .233 batting average on ground balls, seventh-best in the National League (MLB avg: .243)…In 2022, the Nationals had the third-highest opponents’ batting average on ground balls in Major League Baseball (.260).
- Washington ranks fifth in Major League Baseball with 43 double plays turned this season.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – #74 JAKE IRVIN
Tall right-handed starter was added to Washington’s 40-man roster following the 2022 season…Has the “Best Control” in Washington’s system, perBaseball America…Joins other University of Oklahoma pitchers Cade Cavalli (2020 Draft) and Jake Bennett (2022 Draft) in the Nationals organization….Is the 25th pitcher drafted/signed and developed by the Washington Nationals to start a game for Washington (2005-pres.).
LAST START
Struck out a career-high six batters on May 14 vs. New York (NL), but suffered his first Major League defeat…Allowed six earned runs on six hits with one walk in 4.2 innings of work.
FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE WIN
Earned his first Major League win on May 8 at San Francisco…Tossed 6.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts, three walks and four hits allowed…With the outing, Irvin became the first pitcher in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to finish one of his first two career starts with at least 6.0 scoreless innings.
FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE START
Made his Major League debut at home against the Chicago Cubs…Allowed one run on two hits in 4.1 IP with four walks and three strikeouts…Took a no decision but the Nationals won the game 2-1.
THE STORY OF HIS CURVEBALL
As told to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post: “To Irvin, baseball was more about having fun than plotting a future. He learned his curveball grip by messing around in the backyard. He honed the pitch by throwing it from shortstop to first base during practice, a way of messing with his teammates.”
- Opposing batters are 2-for-17 (.118) with seven strikeouts against his curveball.
ANNOUCING HIS PRESENCE WITH AUTHORITY
With his first Major League pitch, Irvin hit Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner in the back…According to Elias Sports Bureau, Irvin was the first pitcher since 2000 to hit a batter with the first pitch he threw in his MLB debut as a starting pitcher.
2023 IN TRIPLE-A
Irvin made five starts for Triple-A Rochester this season…He went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA (14 R/22.1 IP)…Irvin has worked at least 5.0 innings in three of his five starts and has struck out 20 in 22.1 innings.
