The Detroit Tigers have hit a slump. The team has lost six games in a row and are trying to avoid making it seven as they face off in the final game of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Detroit has dropped their last nine of 11 games which dropped them four games out of first place in the American League Central. They are in need of a major bounce back and facing someone like Jesse Hahn who shut them out last time around will certainly not help.
Detroit fell victim to the strong pitching of Sonny Gray who has the Athletics 7-5 when he is starting on the mound. The team is 15-28 when he is not pitching. The Detroit Tigers hope to benefit from that on Thursday. However, their pitching could be what holds them back yet again. The Tigers will put Shane Green on the mound who is 4-4 with a 5.19 ERA. He has lost his last four of five decisions while climbing to an 8.12 ERA in his past eight starts. He is coming off one of his worst starts as he allowed five home runs before the end of the second innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He was the first pitcher to do so, placing him on the wrong side of history.
Detroit has been just as bad at the plate and frustration is growing. On Wednesday, Anthony Gose struck out and thew a ball into the fence at centerfield. Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes all got some simple singles, but no one actually drove in a fair amount of runs. The Tigers are hoping to get players back from injury soon. Justin Verlander and Bruce Rondon are expected back with the team soon as they continue to rehab injuries. That could help shift momentum.
The Oakland Athletics have not been outstanding, but they have been better than the Tigers. The team will put Jesse Hahn on the mound who is 2-5 with a 3.77 ERA on the season. He got the loss in his last start, giving up four runs to the New York Yankees. However, he handed the Tigers a shutout in his last start against them and is hoping to repeat the success on Thursday.