The Detroit Tigers picked up their second straight series win on Wednesday night with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Cader Montero matched his career-high with eight strikeouts, and Hao-Yu Lee’s three-run home run in the fourth inning helped the offense cruise to the win.
The Motor City Kitties now head home to host the Kansas City Royals in a four-game American League Central showdown at Comerica Park. The visitors currently reside in the division basement, five and a half games behind the Tigers, but Detroit can’t take anything for granted in its pursuit of a playoff spot.
Opening the series is right-hander Troy Melton, who has really found his groove over his last five starts. Over his last 29 1/3 innings of work, the 25-year-old posted a microscopic 0.92 ERA along with a healthy 2.56 FIP, giving up 13 hits (three home runs) and nine walks while striking out a whopping 36 batters along with a wild pitch and a hit batter.
Melton got off to a slow start in the strikeout column this season, but he has nine kills in two straight games and has struck out at least one hit per inning since mid-June. Not too shabby.
For the Royals, fellow right-hander and former Tigers minor leaguer Randy Dobnak will make his fourth start of the season and second start since being called up from Triple-A. The 31-year-old was fairly effective but not very effective in his last outing against the San Diego Padres, taking the start and going 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, including a solo home run, and four walks while striking out three en route to a no-decision win in a 6-1 win.
Here’s a look at how the two hurlers will meet in the series opener on Thursday night.
Detroit Tigers (48-54) vs. Kansas City Royals (43-60)
Time (ET): 18:40
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
National SB website: Royal Family Members Overview
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 103: RHP Troy Melton (5-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. RHP Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.93 ERA)