The Blue Jays are 19-24 and the Tigers are 19-25, which is the baseball equivalent of two guys arguing about who's less wet in a thunderstorm. But Friday's series opener has a real hook: Toronto rolls out Trey Yesavage, who's been borderline unhittable since coming off the IL, against Ty Madden, who's quietly been one of Detroit's best arms in a rotation that's been gutted.
Yesavage is a 0.68 ERA through his first handful of starts after a shoulder impingement delayed his season debut to late April. His last time out he punched six in four innings against the Angels without giving up a run. He's not deep into games yet, but he's been the most reliable thing the Jays have, which matters more by the week as their rotation list reads like an MRI clinic waiting room.
- Day-To-DayGeovanny Jesus Planchart C — no
- Day-To-DayChay Yeager RP — Yeager will undergo season-ending UCL surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- Day-To-DayCJ Stubbs C — The Blue Jays signed Stubbs to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
- Day-To-DayJaven Coleman P — no
- 10-Day-ILNathan Lukes RF — Lukes (hamstring) is scheduled to resume running the bases before the end of this week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- 10-Day-ILAddison Barger RF — Barger will undergo an MRI on his right elbow after waking up Sunday with limited range of motion, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAlejandro Kirk C — Kirk (thumb) is expected to begin hitting this weekend, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMax Scherzer SP — Scherzer (forearm) will receive a cortisone injection after experiencing a recurrence of right thumb discomfort, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- Day-To-DayDugan Darnell RP — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILKerry Carpenter RF — The Tigers placed Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder.
- 10-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — The Tigers placed Baez on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right ankle sprain.
- 15-Day-ILCasey Mize SP — Mize (thigh) could return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILWill Vest RP — Vest (forearm) threw a bullpen session Monday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILConnor Seabold RP — Seabold (ankle) struck out two and gave up one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning in his rehab appearance Friday with Single-A Lakeland.
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal SP — Skubal could return in as little as 4-to-6 weeks following surgery Wednesday to remove a loose body from his left elbow, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander SP — The Tigers transferred Verlander to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Speaking of which — Scherzer's getting another cortisone shot in that thumb, Berrios is shut down with elbow inflammation, Bieber is still working back, and Bowden Francis is on the 60-day. Detroit isn't faring much better: Skubal is post-surgery, Casey Mize is targeting Saturday for a return, and Kerry Carpenter's shoulder put him on the shelf last weekend. Whoever blinks first in the bullpen probably loses this one.
Madden is technically the listed starter, but the Tigers have been using him as a piggyback bulk arm — 11 innings, 12 strikeouts and 2 walks across two appearances, with a 2.45 ERA to show for it. AJ Hinch hasn't fully committed to a length, so expect Tyler Holton or another opener-type to potentially front it. Either way, the stuff has played.
Toronto is the favorite at -128 with a 1-run line and a total sitting at 8, which feels honest given both starters' form and both lineups missing pop. The Tigers have lost 4 of 5 and the Jays have lost 3 of 5 — neither side is showing up here with momentum. If you trust Yesavage's run, you take the Jays; if you trust the Detroit park and a banged-up Toronto lineup without Kirk and Barger, the under is the bet.
Bottom line: a kid with a sub-1 ERA against a converted reliever with electric numbers, two scuffling lineups, and a total that says nobody trusts either offense. Get the popcorn. First pitch 5:45 PM ET.