TIGERS (41-39):

Kinsler 2B
Cespedes LF
VMart DH
JD RF
Avila 1B
Castellanos 3B
McCann C
Gose CF
Iggy SS

Verlander P Season: 0-1, 5.09 era (1.53 whip), Lifetime against the Blue Jays 3-3, 4.29


Blue Jays (42-41):

Reyes SS
Donaldson 3B
Bautista RF
Encarnacion DH
Smoak 1B
Martin C
Valencia LF
Pillar CF
Travis 2B

Estrada P Season: 5-4, 3.58 era (1.15 whip), Never faced the Tigers


This game marks the half way point of the season (Game # 81). Can the Tigers complete the sweep of the Jays? Can Verlander have a solid outing?

It’s been a struggle for JV since his return from the DL. But in his 2 home starts he has a 3.27 era. The Tigers have lost all 3 of his starts. Lefties are hitting .317 and righties .231. In his 17.2 innings this season JV has given up 4 hr’s and 8 walks while striking out only 7.

Estrada has been solid for the Jays all season long. Lefties are hitting .228 and righties only .196. He is coming off his shortest outing of the season lasting just 2.1 innings. In his 2 previous starts he took a no hitter into the 8th in back to back games. He is 4-1 with a 2.90 era in his last 7 starts.

Tiger have little history against Estrada. Only 4 batters have ever faced him: Cespedes is 2-3, Gose and Kinsler both 0-2 and JD is 1-6. JD now has 13 home runs and 32 rbi’s in his last 22 games. He is 2nd in the AL with 22 home runs and tied for 2nd in the AL with 55 rbi’s.

The Blue Jays are 47 for 173 (.272) with 6 home runs and a .744 ops against JV. Bautista is 5 for 17 with a home run, Encarnacion is 3 for 18 with 2 home runs, Smoak is 4 for 12 with 2 home runs, Reyes is 5 for 11 and Martin is 6 for 15 with a home run against him.

Ausmus says the Tigers will rotate Avila, Wilson, Romine and Marte and 1st base. VMart is not being considered an option.

McCann now has 3 triples this season. He had 1 in his minor league career.

The weather forecast for Detroit at game time calls mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s. There's no chance of rain.