• 1

Cleveland Indians 6/12-14

The Cleveland Indians make their second trip to Comerica Park for the season, June 12-14. In their first series, the Tigers swept the Indians on the road as part of their 6-0 start to the season. The Tigers outscored the Indians 25-15 in three games. The Tigers then took two of three games from the Tribe in Detroit from April 24-26.

Former Detroit Tigers utility player Ryan Raburn, and current Indians designated hitter, leads the club in batting average. Right fielder Brandon Moss, who hit two home runs and drove in seven runs against the Tigers on April 24, leads the team in RBI and home runs.

Cleveland’s rotation is anchored by 25-year-old Danny Salazar, who leads the club in earned run average, strikeouts and wins. Also dominant on the mound is Carlos Carrasco, who is tied with Salazar for most wins amongst starters.

Tigers vs. Indians (All-Time)

Cincinnati Reds 6/15-16

The Cincinnati Reds make their only trip to Comerica Park during the 2015 campaign from June 15-16 to close out a Tigers seven-game homestand. In his second year, manager Bryan Price will lead the Reds in their first trip to Detroit since the two teams dueled for three games in May 2006. The Reds ended the 2014 season in fourth place in the National League Central Division with a 76-86 record.

The Reds’ corner infielders have been productive at the plate through the first part of the season. Third baseman Todd Frazier, who ended the 2014 season tied as the team’s batting average leader, is currently leading the team in home runs, while first baseman Joey Votto leads the team in RBI. Billy Hamilton continues to show his prowess on the base paths and leads not only the Reds in stolen bases, but also the major league.

Johnny Cueto was the runner up for the National League Cy Young award following a career-high 20 wins and career low 2.25 ERA. Cueto, along with Jason Marquis, lead the 2015 Reds in wins so far this season. With the loss of Homer Bailey to season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Reds have called upon rookie righthander Michael Lorenzen to replace the veteran in the rotation. Lorenzen and Anthony DeSclafani bring youth to a rotation of strong veterans including the team’s ERA leader Mike Leake. Closer Aroldis Chapman is looking to ride his momentum from the 2014 season, when he converted 36 of 38 save opportunities. So far this season, he has yet to blow a save and leads all relievers in earned run average.

Tigers vs. Reds (All-Time)

Chicago White Sox 6/25-28

The Chicago White Sox open a 10-game homestand for the Tigers with their second trip to Comerica Park from June 25-28. In April, when the two teams dueled in Detroit, the Tigers took two of three games before losing two of three when they were on the road in May.

Avisail Garcia, former Tigers outfielder, is leading the everyday players at the plate for the White Sox in batting average with Jose Abreu not far behind. Abreu leads the club in RBI and home runs, both areas in which he finished the 2014 season as the team’s leader

On the mound, Chris Sale leads the club in wins while Jeff Samardzija leads regular starters in ERA. Newcomers to the White Sox bullpen, closer David Robertson and reliever Matt Alberts are amongst the top relievers for the squad in ERA.

Tigers vs. White Sox (All-Time)

Pittsburgh Pirates 6/30-7/2

The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Comerica Park for a three-game series from June 30 to July 2. After finishing the 2014 season with a Wild Card appearance and a second place finish in the National League Central, manager Clint Hurdle and the Pirates hosted the Tigers in April for their home-opening series with the Tigers winning two of three games.

In his first season with the club middle infielder Sean Rodriguez is the Pirates’ batting average leader through the first part of the season. Outfielder Andrew Mccutcheon has been fighting through an early season slump, but is still among the top batters in RBI, behind only Starling Marte. The Pirates former No. 1 prospect, Gregory Polacno leads the club in multiple offensive categories including stolen bases and doubles.

On the mound, righthander Gerrit Cole is leading the team in wins. He took a no-decision in his first start before going on to earn wins in his next four starts to close out the month of April. His ERA is second only to veteran A.J. Burnett, who is back with the club after spending the 2014 season with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tigers vs. Pirates (All-Time)

Toronto Blue Jays 7/3-5

The Toronto Blue Jays make their only trip of the season to Detroit, July 3-5. The Blue Jays finished the 2014 season with an 83-79 record and in third place in the American League East Division. The Blue Jays are led by manager John Gibbons who is in his eighth year at the helm.

Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, who ended the 2014 campaign with a 13-10 record, is leading the Blue Jays rotation in wins through the first half of the season. R.A. Dickey, the 2012 Cy Young Award winner and Blue Jays’ 2014 leader in wins, has the most losses of any pitchers in the rotation so far this season and did not earn his first win until May 4.

During the offseason, the Blue Jays added third baseman Josh Donaldson to their lineup in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. Donaldson is already making his presence known in the batting order – ranking high in batting average, RBI and home runs amongst every day players through the first part of the season.

Tigers vs. Blue Jays (All-Time)

This content was originally published in Issue 3 of “The Tigers Magazine” distributed at stands throughout Comerica Park during the 2015 Detroit Tigers season.