MJ Melendez is gone, will the bats wake up?
Today, the thing Royals fans have been begging for – some since before the season even began – happened. The Royals demoted MJ Melendez in a corresponding move to returning Mark Canha from the injured list. Canha served the minimum 10-day stint from a left abductor strain.
Even without Melendez, there’s a game to be played today as the Royals have two more in Detroit before returning home. The Royals have lost five in a row, scoring three or fewer runs in each of the contests. To stop their streak, they’ll ask Seth Lugo to pitch an absolute gem. Last year’s AL Cy Young runner-up has been serviceable so far this season. He has a 3.86 ERA in his first four starts and, unlike staff ace Cole Ragans, he does have a win to his name. Still, he’ll have to be more than serviceable unless Melendez was somehow cursing the entire lineup to play poorly.
The Tigers will counter with Casey Mize. The 28-year-old right-hander is off to a pretty great start for Detroit with a 2.60 ERA to begin the season. His SIERRA suggests he’s actually pitched quite a bit worse, so maybe his good luck could finally come to an end today? No, I’m not betting on it either.
Lineups
Here’s how we’re taking the field behind Seth Lugo this afternoon in Detroit.
Mark Canha, despite his return, will not start today. Instead, Maikel Garcia will make his first major league start in right field. He’s been solid in center, but the ball does different things in right field, so it could be an adventure for him. Drew Waters continues to get a real look in the outfield as he will start in left. If he wants to continue to hold his spot on the major league roster, he’ll probably need to start striking out less.