DRays vs Tigers (5/28-5/30)

[craig01]

Monday, May 28 Tropicana Field | 7:10 PM ET
DET Chad Durbin, RHP (4-1, 4.74)
Tigers (29-20) @ TB Edwin Jackson, RHP (0-6, 7.78)
Devil Rays (20-28)

Scouting Report:
Tigers: Durbin's string of seven consecutive starts in which he lowered his ERA ended with his start against the Angels on Wednesday night, but he still got the victory in an 8-7 win. Durbin has been much improved after he began the season with three rough outings that had his ERA at 10.54. He appears to be more comfortable in his role as the team's fifth starter. Durbin will start the first game of the year for the Tigers against Tampa Bay, a team he holds a 1-1 record against with a 3.93 ERA in three career starts.

Devil Rays: Jackson's turn was skipped a couple of days, then was bypassed another day after a rainout at Chicago on Saturday. He has had nine days off to tinker with his delivery with the help of pitching coach Jim Hickey.


Tuesday, May 29 Tropicana Field | 7:10 PM ET
DET Jeremy Bonderman, RHP (3-0, 3.57)
Tigers (29-20) @ TB Casey Fossum, LHP (3-4, 7.15)
Devil Rays (20-28)

Scouting Report:
Tigers: Blister? What blister? Bonderman pitched one of his best games of the season in his last start on May 24 against the Angels after he missed two starts with a blister on his right middle finger. He worked out of two bases-loaded jams in the first and fourth innings and allowed four hits over eight innings in a 12-0 win. Bonderman walked a season-high five in that game, but he made the key pitches when he needed them to go along with his six strikeouts.

Rays: Fossum earned the hard-luck loss even though he gave up just a single earned run over 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday. He kept his pitches down and out of Seattle's reach for the most part, something he had struggled to do in his previous outing. It was his fourth quality start of nine tries, but he's been the victim of poor run support more than once -- the Rays have averaged only 3.89 runs in his starts.


Wednesday, May 30 Tropicana Field | 7:10 PM ET
DET Nate Robertson, LHP (4-4, 4.03)
Tigers (29-20) @ TB James Shields, RHP (3-0, 3.15)
Devil Rays (20-28)

Scouting Report:
Tigers: Make it four rough starts in a row for Robertson. He gave up 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 7-4 loss to the Indians on Friday. Opponents are hitting the ball at an alarming rate against Robertson, who has given up 37 hits over his past 20 1/3 innings. Robertson said he can't figure out why he isn't fooling more hitters, though the biggest key will be keeping the ball low in the zone. Robertson will have to figure it out before his start against the Rays. He's 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in three starts against them.

Rays: Elijah Dukes hit a three-run home run to take Shields off the hook for what would have been his first loss of the season on Friday night, as the young right-hander struggled a bit against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed four runs, 10 hits and three walks over seven innings. The biggest blow against him came via Luis Terrero, who hit his own three-run homer in the fourth. Shields has allowed nine home runs in 10 starts this season, perhaps the only significant statistical blotch against him.

[craig01]

Can the DRays possibly ever get a quality start from Jackson or Fossum, much less back to back ones?

These guys have been bullpen killers so far this year.

Jackson has a good arm, time to get it together.

[OSBB]

YES SIR!!!!!! Aki is a man.

[craig01]

Well done.

Clutch.

Rays come back and take game one.

Jackson really pitched well after taking one in the face.

[OSBB]

Joe Maddon needs dap. Really well managed ballgame.

[Three34]

Except for putting in Orvella, which rarely seems like the right move.

Still, Camp didn't play, so all is well. And Stokes didn't suck, so even better.

[OSBB]

Hopefully Glover is on to something. I want more Ryu and Corky too.

[Three34]

Glover throws harder than I gave him credit for. I'm impressed.

I like Corcoran as long reliever. Ryu only seems to throw well when the Rays are in a blowout loss.

Jim Hickey doesn't seem to be doing much for this team's control as a colelctive. Still, they must have done something to make Edwin Jackson as good as he was today.

[Three34]

Gotta think that that's it for Fossum. You can only blow up so many times.

[craig01]

I agree.....10 batters faced, 7 hits, 5 runs.

I really think he'd be ok as a middle relief guy working a couple of innings...it's just that once batters figure him out....he's toast.

[Three34]

Is it just me, or will it be just a little bit hypocritical when they move Fossum to the bullpen, given the whole "we're not having a left hander for the sake of having a left hander" thing?

I mean, it's not like he's earned it.

[craig01]

It will be, but lets face it......you need a left hander in the pen.

And really, you need more than one.

But yeah, the story won't hold based on his 8+ ERA (I haven't sen it yet, gues I should have looked).

[craig01]

Fossum's ERA as of tonight 7.89.

Should have looked first.

[Three34]

Jon Switzer. Make it so.

[Three34]

Nice, a blowout loss. This is where Jay Cook You shines. You watch him look like a Korean Jesus right here.

[craig01]

12-2.

Ouch.

One like this has been coming for a while. It was just a matter of time when one of these bad starts snowballed.

[Three34]

Fossum and Seo pitched in the same game, and the Rays lost?

HEATHENS!

[HeyIt'sMe]

Even though they got drilled, is there any doubt that Delmon has the best OF arm in baseball? The kid has an absolute cannon. Vlad's pure arm strength might be a smidge better, but Delmon's accuracy is far greater than Guerrero's. Every time someone tags to go to third, you feel like Young will throw him out.

[craig01]

Right now, I'd put Young's arm against anybody.

The throw from deep right field against the White Sox bordered on impossible.

[craig01]

Time for the "ace" to step up with a good performance tonight.

Rays will rebound tonight........5-3 , Rays.