Apr 4, 2019; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull (56) pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Strong pitching has fueled the Detroit Tigers’ surprising start. Their offense is now showing signs of life heading into the finale of a three-game home series with Cleveland.
Detroit won for the sixth time in seven games on Wednesday, defeating the Indians 4-1. The Tigers racked up 10 hits off Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer, who had given up just one hit in his first two starts combined.
The teams will square off again on Thursday afternoon.
“We’ve been struggling offensively and we’re just trying to get better game by game as an offense and stay within ourselves,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters after the game Wednesday. “I think some guys are starting to use the whole field, staying on balls, some really good two-strike at-bats. We’re cutting down on our strikeouts a little bit and if we do that a little better we’ll get a lot more hits.”
All but two of Detroit’s eight wins have come by one- or two-run margins. Closer Shane Greene has collected saves in each victory.
“He’s always had the pitches but he’s got life on the ball,” Gardenhire said. “He’s fresh right now. If we keep pitching him every game, he won’t be fresh anymore. Every game seems to be close and he definitely wants the ball in those situations.”
It’s unlikely that Detroit’s starter on Thursday will remember the game as much as he’ll treasure his last start. Right-hander Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 4.09 ERA) pitched the team’s home opener and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in six innings against Kansas City last Thursday.
Turnbull made his major league debut last September and wasn’t in the rotation until Michael Fulmer suffered a season-ending elbow injury late in spring training.
“I don’t know if I deserved it or not, but it was really cool to have the opportunity,” Turnbull told MLive.com after getting a no decision in the Tigers’ win. “Anything more than this is just adding icing to the cake. It’s already been so cool, such a journey. Now it’s about staying here and continuing to do my job day in and day out and being a professional, learning what that’s all about it. I’m just excited for the future.”
Turnbull will be making his eighth major league appearance and is still seeking his first win. In his only outing against Cleveland last season, he pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
The Indians’ scheduled starter, right-hander Shane Bieber (0-0, 3.38 ERA), is coming off a strong performance against Toronto on Friday, giving up two runs on two hits in six innings while striking out nine and walking a pair.
Due to gaps in the schedule, Bieber’s first outing this season was a two-inning relief stint.
“It was different,” Bieber said of his delayed start. “But at the same time a situation shouldn’t have to be perfect for you to go out there and perform. It was definitely different, but I don’t think it was a problem at all. I was able to settle back into a semi-normal routine after that to prepare for this start.”
Bieber faced Detroit twice last season, going 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA.
Cleveland’s staff has posted a 2.81 ERA in the first 11 games. The bullpen has only given up seven earned runs.
“Their workloads have all remained pretty well the same and then they’ve done a good job,” manager Terry Francona told Cleveland.com. “We’re going to need them, and we know that. So the more confidence they can build now, it’ll help us later.”
