Certainly, one thing is certain about Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers: both managers will make numerous pitching changes. Both teams plan to approach the series finale in Detroit as a bullpen day. The Tigers have designated right-handed reliever Beau Brieske as their opener, while the Dodgers have not yet announced their starting pitcher.
Injuries have severely disrupted the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and Walker Buehler are currently on the injured list, each at different stages of rehabilitation. Additionally, ESPN reported that right-hander Dustin May, who has been recovering from arm surgery and hasn’t pitched this season, will miss the rest of the year following surgery for a torn esophagus.
The Tigers are dealing with injuries to starter Casey Mize, while Jack Flaherty missed a recent start earlier this month. Kenta Maeda, who has struggled, has been moved to the bullpen after giving up 15 runs over 6 1/3 innings in two July starts. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch remarked, “I think both teams would prefer to play seven innings on Sunday. We’re both depleted, facing a bullpen-heavy game.”
Brieske has allowed two runs from seven hits in eight innings across three games against Los Angeles in his career, with one of those games being a start. Initially a starter during his rookie season in 2022 (making 15 consecutive starts), Brieske currently holds a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA in 18 appearances this season.
The series is currently tied after both teams won one game each. Shohei Ohtani’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning secured a 4-3 win for the Dodgers in the series opener on Friday night. Los Angeles appeared poised for another victory as they led 9-4 heading into the ninth inning on Saturday afternoon.
Detroit made a remarkable comeback, highlighted by Colt Keith’s two-run homer that concluded a five-run inning. Gio Urshela’s two-run homer in the 10th inning sealed an 11-9 victory for the Tigers.
“This win is going to be remembered as one of the most enjoyable,” Hinch commented. “You can’t help but feel a little extra excitement after a game like today, even though every win is satisfying.” Keith, a rookie, contributed with a two-run double and three hits. He has recorded six games with multiple hits this month and has hit five of his nine home runs during this period.
“We’re a resilient team,” Keith remarked. “We’ve pulled off many ninth-inning victories this season (19 come-from-behind wins). We always fight back and put ourselves in a position to win. That’s exactly what we did. Even when we were down 9-4, there was no sense of defeat in the dugout. We stayed strong and focused.”
The Tigers will go into the All-Star break with a record below .500, but they are showing positive signs, winning seven of their last nine games. Their most recent victory was particularly impressive.
“I can’t quite find the right words to describe this game other than it’s incredibly satisfying to see the joy in the clubhouse,” Hinch expressed. “What a comeback.” The atmosphere was starkly different in the opposing clubhouse. The Dodgers were left shocked by the manner of their defeat, now holding a 1-5 record over the last six games.
“We should have closed out that game, especially with a five-run lead and the momentum we had,” commented Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes. The Dodgers had maintained a perfect 48-0 record when leading after eight innings this season. “We let a five-run lead slip away, and there’s no justification for that,” manager Dave Roberts remarked. “We simply need to perform better.”
Ohtani, who crossed the plate three times on Saturday, achieved a significant career milestone by hitting his 200th home run, becoming the first Japanese-born player to reach that mark.
“He’s having an exceptional season, MVP-caliber,” Roberts remarked. “Reaching 200 home runs in such a short time in the majors, despite some time on the injured list, is quite remarkable. He even managed to hit a triple. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t mark his 200th home run milestone with a victory”.
