DETROIT TIGERS (67-78) vs. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (86-60)
RHP Justin Verlander (3-8, 3.58) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (9-12, 3.47)
Friday, September 18, 2015 at 7:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers won the rubber game of their series against the Twins with a 7-4 win in 12 innings on Wednesday night at Target Field. With the game tied at four in the 12th inning, Ian Kinsler hit a go-ahead RBI single, while J.D. Martinez added some insurance with a two-run home run. Kinsler and Martinez each finished the game with two hits, while Tyler Collins and Jefry Marte each contributed two hits and two RBI. Andrew Romine went 3×5 with a run scored. Ian Krol earned the win after tossing 3.0 hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts. The Tigers begin their final homestand of 2015 tonight as they open a three-game series against Kansas City. Following the series vs. the Royals, the 10-game homestand continues with four games vs. the Chicago White Sox (September 21-23) and three games against the Twins (September 25-27).
UPDATE ON ANIBAL SANCHEZ: Righthanded pitcher Anibal Sanchez was examined on Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Florida. He underwent a MRI arthrogram, which showed no major structural damage. He received a PRP injection and will be shut down for the remainder of the season.
J.D. POWER: J.D. Martinez hit his 37th home run of the season on Wednesday, hitting a two-run shot off Brian Duensing in the 12th inning. Martinez’s 37 home runs are a single-season career high and are the fifth most in the American League. His 37 home runs also are tied with Rocky Colavito (1962) for the second most most by a Tigers outfielder in franchise history, trailing only Colavito, who hit 45 homers in 1961.
GOSE EXTENDS ON BASE STREAK TO 13: Anthony Gose went 0x1 with a run scored and two walks in Wednesday’s game to extend his streak of reaching base safely to a career-high tying 13 straight games. Over the last 13 games, Gose is hitting .333 (16×48) with nine runs scored, three doubles, one triple, one home run and three RBI.
PINK OUT THE PARK: The Detroit Tigers and Karmanos Cancer Institute team up for the fourth annual Pink out the Park event, presented by Delta Air Lines at Comerica Park to celebrate and honor those touched by breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to support breast health awareness. The first 10,000 women through the gates will receive a pink infinity scarf, courtesy of Delta Air Lines. An on-field ceremony will take place honoring over 500 breast cancer survivors prior to the start of the game. FOX Sports Detroit will provide cheer cards for all fans to write the name of a loved one battling cancer or honoring the memory of someone lost to the disease. Fans will be encouraged to display the signs at the end of the fifth inning to pay tribute to these individuals. Additionally, select pink and breast cancer awareness merchandise are available for sale in The D Shop with a portion of the proceeds benefitting cancer research at the Karmanos Cancer Institute.
TONIGHT’S TIDBITS
- The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by three great cancer survivors, including Maureen Meldrum, the recently retired chair of the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure, representing the Karmanos Cancer Institute.
- The national anthem will be performed by Delta Chorale, comprised of Delta Air Lines employees.
- Friday Night Fireworks presented by Pepsi will follow the game, weather permitting.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 67-78/ Streak: W2
Game #146 / Home #72
Home: 33-38 / Road 34-40
TIGERS VS. ROYALS
2015 Record: 7-9
2015 at Home: 3-3
2015 at Kansas City: 4-6
All-Time Record: 322-320
All-Time at Home: 169-152
All-Time at Comerica Park: 77-65
All-Time at Kansas City: 153-168
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/30 | KC | L, 8-1 | Duffy/Simon |
| 5/1 | KC | L, 4-1 | Young/Lobstein/Davis |
| 5/2 | KC | W, 2-1 | PRICE/Volquez |
| 5/3 | KC | W, 6-4 | Sanchez/Guthrie/Soria |
| 5/8 | DET | W, 6-5 | Soria/Pino |
| 5/9 | DET | L, 6-2 | Guthrie/Sanchez |
| 5/10 | DET | L, 2-1 (10) | Fraser/Nesbitt/Holland |
| 8/4 | DET | L, 5-1 | Duffy/Verlander |
| 8/5 | DET | W, 2-1 | Boyd/Cueto/Wilson |
| 8/6 | DET | W, 8-6 | Wilson/Madson |
| 8/10 | KC | L, 4-0 | CUETO/Boyd |
| 8/11 | KC | L, 6-1 | Ventura/Sanchez/Hochevar |
| 8/12 | KC | W, 7-4 | Feliz/Volquez/Rondon |
| 9/1 | KC | W, 6-5 | Verlander/Cueto/Rondon |
| 9/2 | KC | L, 12-1 | Ventura/Wolf |
| 9/3 | KC | L. 15-7 | Young/Ryan |
| 9/18 | DET | ||
| 9/19 | DET | ||
| 9/20 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 3-2
Last 10 games: 4-6
Last 15 games: 5-10
Last 20 games: 7-13
This content was originally published on September 18, 2015. It was delivered electronically to specific media contacts and the entire Detroit Tigers front office staff, as well as being available to media in the press box and distributed to fans at program stands around Comerica Park.
