Detroit Tigers drop series finale to Kansas City Royals, 3-2: Game thread replay
Detroit Tigers (51-82) vs. Kansas City Royals (54-80)
When: 1:40 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; other radio affiliates).
First-pitch weather forecast: Cloudy, mid-70s, 30% chance of thunderstorms beginning around 3 p.m.
Probable starting pitchers: Tigers RHP Matt Manning (1-2, 3.79 ERA) vs. Royals RHP Max Castillo (0-1, 2.81 ERA).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT:Tigers crushed by Royals, 12-2, but Tucker Barnhart hits first homer in 2022
MORE:Why so much hinges on what the Detroit Tigers youngsters do over the next month
Tigers lineup:
1. Riley Greene, CF
2. Victor Reyes, RF
3. Javier Baez, SS
4. Harold Castro, 1B
5. Eric Haase, DH
6. Jeimer Candelario, 3B
7. Ryan Kreidler, 2B
8. Tucker Barnhart, C
9. Akil Baddoo, LF
Game notes: Max Castillo’s list of home teams in 2022 reads something like a Johnny Cash song: He’s been everywhere — New Hampshire, Buffalo, Toronto, Omaha and now Kansas City.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan rookie — not to be confused with Max Casella, a 55-year-old former "Newsie" who also played Doogie Howser's best friend in the 1990s — will be making his 11th career big-league appearance and fourth start when he toes the rubber for the Royals at Comerica Park; he started the year in Double-A in the Blue Jays’ organization, moved up to Triple-A in May and on to the majors in June. After posting a 3.05 ERA over 20 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays in June and July, the big righty was sent to K.C. in the Jays’ deal for Whit Merrifield. Castillo made one start for the Royals — five innings of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 18 before being sent back down to Triple-A.
Despite all those uniform changes, Castillo has seen a bit of the Tigers’ lineup this season. On July 29, he pitched a scoreless ninth in the Tigers’ 4-2 victory in Toronto, inducing grounders by Victor Reyes, Javier Báez and Jeimer Candelario and walking Harold Castro with two outs. Three weeks later, on Aug. 18, Castillo started for Omaha against Toledo — he gave up two runs (one earned) in three innings — and faced Ryan Kreidler and Spencer Torkelson twice each. Kreidler struck out swinging in the first inning, then doubled in the third, while Torkelson singled in the second and reached in the third on a fielder’s choice. Castillo also faced the newest Tiger, 28-year-old Josh Lester (called up after Miguel Cabrera went on the 10-day IL Saturday night), retiring him on a strikeout and a groundout.
Manning, meanwhile, will be facing the Royals for the second time this season, and the Tigers are hoping he lasts longer than his first go-round: On April 16, Marrning gave up a run on five hits over two innings before departing with shoulder discomfort that would turn into more than three months on the injured list. (Those five hits: A single by Bobby Witt Jr., a single by the now-traded Andrew Benintendi, a single by Hunter Dozier, a single by Adalberto Mondesi and, yep, a single by Nicky Lopez.) Manning has been much more effective since his IL stint, thanks to an improved slider grip (though he didn’t have much of a feel for it in his previous start, allowing seven runs to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday).
After Sunday’s matchup, the Tigers will head out to Anaheim, California, for a three-game set beginning Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels. The Royals also play Monday night, though their trip is slightly shorter, as they head home to host the Cleveland Guardians for three games in K.C. After those series, the Tigers and Royals will reunite for a three-game series in Kansas City. (They also have three more games in Detroit at the end of September.)
Live updates
Can't see the updates? Refresh the page or check them out on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lose to Kansas City Royals, 3-2: Game thread replay
