close
close

Yiamastaverna

Trusted News & Timely Insights

    • Detroit Tigers reveal roster for American League Wild Card Series
    Suffolk

    Detroit Tigers reveal roster for American League Wild Card Series

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    Houston – Manager AJ Hinch pulled veteran Kenta Maeda aside during the team’s practice Monday and broke the news to him that he would not be on the Tigers’ playoff roster for the Wild Card Series.

    Maeda and right-hander Keider Montero were not included, meaning the Tigers will have 12 pitchers for this series. And given that both pitched multiple innings on Sunday, it couldn’t have been a surprise.

    Still, Hinch was forced to explain the decision to Maeda. And to thank him.

    “I wanted to connect what we asked of him on Sunday to what we did today,” Hinch said. “Just to prepare ourselves. His contribution to this first series came in the form of a number of throws for which we left him out on Sunday so we could rest the larger group of substitutes we have.”

    Maeda threw 89 pitches in 4.2 innings. Montero struck out 56 in three innings. If the Tigers advance, both would be in discussion for the division series squad.

    “Every series is different,” Hinch said. “Every squad is different. You make different decisions depending on your opponent. But Kenta’s performance on Sunday is related to today’s. If we had had to use a variety of pitchers today, we would have just been a little more exhausted.

    “Instead, we are completely rested.”

    Hinch kept the position group intact for the Wild Card Series. The Tigers also brought along two players who will serve as emergency options on a taxi squad in the event of an injury – utility player Ryan Kreidler and catcher Liam Hicks.

    The 25-year-old Hicks, acquired from the Rangers for Carson Kelly just before the trade deadline, ended his season in Double A. The Tigers’ most experienced minor league catcher, Anthony Bemboom, ended his Triple A season early due to concussion problems .

    ▶ Pitchers: Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Sean Guenther, Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Tarik Skubal, Will Vest.

    ▶ POSITION PLAYER: Kerry Carpenter, Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene, Andy Ibáñez, Jace Jung, Colt Keith, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Zach McKinstry, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Jake Rogers, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Matt Vierling.

    Verlander “true professional”

    The Houston Astros did not induct the future right-hander into the Hall of Fame Justin Verlander on their playoff roster. And perhaps the most surprising thing about the decision was that it wasn’t a surprise.

    “It was a very easy conversation,” the Astros manager said Joe Espada said. “Justin Verlander is a professional. He knows how well our starting pitchers have performed all season. When we had this conversation, he was all in.

    “He will do what is best for this team. So I was happy to hear his feedback and how he rated his season and his last few starts. Real professional. He’s a real professional.”

    The Astros are expected to use lefties Yusei Kikuchi and right-hander and Wayne State University product Hunter Brown in the next two games. Espada said he will name his starter for Game 2 after Tuesday’s game.

    Verlander, 41, has struggled to get back into shape after missing two months with a neck injury. In seven starts down the stretch, he posted an 8.10 ERA with opponents hitting .322.

    Skubal and Chaos

    The Tigers opted for a soft voice Reese Olson to speak on behalf of the club’s unheralded starter or opener for Game 2. You can take that as an indication that Olson will start Game 2 at his own risk.

    “It could be Reese,” Hinch said. “Could be a start. Could be a start for Reese.”

    It could be none of the above. This is what Hinch meant when he said his pitching plan would look like this Tarik Skubal followed by pitching chaos. All options are available.

    “The only thing I really know is that whenever AJ tells me to go on the mound, I will go,” Olson said. “So whenever that is, I’ll be ready for it. But yeah, I think it’s just kind of a fluid situation.

    “We’ll see how it turns out.”

    Olson has made three starts since going on the injured list (shoulder). In his last start on September 26, he threw 72 pitches in four innings. He was essentially a mass opener.

    “We have a group of guys in the bullpen that have been doing this for a month and a half now,” Olson said. “We’ve seen pretty much all types of pitchers out there. We have the lefty sinker ballers, we have the lefty righty guys, same thing with the righty guys.

    “So we have a man for every match and AJ knows how to use that to his advantage.”

    Catch Valdez

    Tiger Catcher Jake RogersLest we forget, Verlander came to the Tigers from the Astros in the 2017 trade. He came through the minor leagues with several current Astros, including Game 1 starters and left-handers Framber Valdez.

    He caught Valdez in the Single-A Quad Cities in 2016. Rogers knew even then that Valdez was on his way to great things.

    “Not surprised at all,” he said. “We had a lot of good arms back then. A lot of those guys are in the big leagues now. Framber was always the guy who just had great stuff. And he was always very difficult to catch. And if it’s hard to catch, it’s also hard to hit.

    “I always knew he was going to be really good, and he’s been bad ever since.”

    [email protected]

    @cmccosky

    Tagged:

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Caradoc Wyn
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    ads