The Guardians try to complete the broom Thursday afternoon at Comerica, sending Joey Cantillo against Casey Mize in a 12:10 first pitch. Cleveland already took the first 3 of this series, including a 10-inning gut-punch on Wednesday, and at 29-22 they've opened a 3-game cushion in the AL Central.
Detroit is a mess. A.J. Hinch said his group has "found ways to lose games more than we've found ways to win games" and called the team's baserunning lapses "a real problem" after Wednesday's loss. At 20-30 and 10 games under .500 at the quarter-pole, the Tigers are running out of polite ways to describe it.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILGabriel Arias SS — no
- PaternityPeyton Pallette RP — The Guardians placed Pallette on the paternity list Tuesday.
- 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.
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno C — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres 2B — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that Torres (oblique) is still unable to swing a bat at full effort, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — Baez (ankle) has been conducting his rehab at the Tigers' spring training facility in Florida and is taking part in full baseball activities, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 10-Day-ILKerry Carpenter RF — Carpenter (shoulder) has been doing light running and throwing since landing on the 10-day injured list and expects to resume swinging a bat this week, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILTy Madden SP — Madden (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal SP — Skubal (elbow) is slated to throw a bullpen session Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander SP — Verlander (hip) completed a four-inning, 62-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
The IL is the bigger story. Detroit is without Tarik Skubal, Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson, Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres, Javier Baez and Parker Meadows, among others. That's the staff ace, the second-best starter, the lefty masher, the middle infield and the center fielder. Mize has been the lone bright spot — he carries a 2.43 ERA into this one after returning from his own adductor scare, and he's been good for at least 5.2 innings of one-run-or-zero ball in four of his five starts.
Cantillo, meanwhile, has quietly become a problem for opposing lineups. He's 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA and just turned in 5 innings of 1-run ball in a win at Kansas City. He's been particularly stingy at home, but the Guardians offense has done plenty of road work during this streak to take the pressure off.
The market has this priced as a near pick'em with Detroit getting a slight nod at home, which feels generous given the way both teams are playing. The 0.5-run line discrepancy between books on the spread and total tells you nobody's quite sure how to handicap a Tigers club this short-handed against a Cleveland team that can't lose. No EV worth chasing on either side — this is a watch-and-see, not a bet-the-house.
If Cleveland gets length from Cantillo and chases Mize early, this one is over by the 7th. If Mize does Mize things and keeps the Guardians off the board into the middle innings, the Tigers might actually steal one before the bus to the airport. Lean Cleveland, but don't pay full price for it.