Royals Tigers finale: Detroit seeks series win Sunday
The Detroit Tigers look to clinch a series win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday at 1:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. Left-hander Framber Valdez faces right-hander Luinder Avila after Detroit fell 3-2 on Saturday in another one-run affair between the Royals Tigers rivals.
Detroit sits at 50-55 and Kansas City at 44-62 as the clubs wrap a four-game set. Fans tracking where to stream can browse more Streaming & TV Alerts coverage on BlasterPost.
Key Takeaways
- The Tigers can still take the series Sunday after a 3-2 loss on Saturday.
- Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.57 ERA) starts for Detroit; Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.86 ERA) starts for Kansas City.
- First pitch is 1:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park, with Detroit SportsNet and MLB.TV listed as TV options.
- Eleven straight Tigers-Royals games at Comerica Park have been decided by one run.
- Valdez is coming off a career-matching short start; Avila has a 5.87 ERA as a starter this summer.
What happened in the Royals Tigers series so far?
According to Bless You Boys, Detroit fell short of a series-clinching win Saturday, losing 3-2 as the offense struggled and the bullpen failed to hold a late lead.
It was the 11th consecutive game between the clubs decided by one run at Comerica Park. The Motor City side still has a chance to seize the series in the finale after dropping that one-run decision.
Yahoo Sports likewise describes Sunday as a much-needed series win opportunity for Detroit as the four-game set closes at Comerica Park.
Who is pitching in the Royals Tigers series finale?
Valdez, 32, takes the mound after a rough outing against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed six runs on five hits and two walks, striking out one and hitting a batter in just two-thirds of an inning in an 11-2 loss at Wrigley Field.
Yahoo Sports notes that July 21 start matched the shortest of his career: he faced 10 batters and retired only two. His last home start against Kansas City on April 14 was far stronger, with seven innings of one-run ball on four hits and two walks in a 2-1 Detroit win, though he did not factor in the decision.
Avila, 24, makes his 11th start and 10th in a row out of 20 appearances this season. As a starter he has posted a 5.87 ERA and 5.83 FIP over 38 1/3 innings, surrendering 39 hits, six home runs, and 25 walks while striking out 26. He faced Detroit in relief on May 8 and threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and striking out one in a 4-3 Royals win at Kauffman Stadium.
Season lines for Sunday list Valdez at 5-7 with a 4.57 ERA and Avila at 5-3 with a 4.86 ERA. Advanced marks cited for Valdez include a 4.16 FIP over 108 1/3 innings; Avila carries a 4.30 FIP over 63 innings across all appearances.
Where can you watch the Royals Tigers game on Sunday?
First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Broadcast options listed by Bless You Boys include Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, and the Tigers Radio Network for fans following along from home.
Bench availability for Detroit includes catcher Jake Rogers, outfielders Matt Vierling and Ben Malgeri, and infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry, according to Yahoo Sports coverage of the series finale lineup notes.
With both clubs below .500, Sunday offers Detroit a path to a series victory after Saturday's one-run loss, with Avila tasked with stopping that bid on the road.