Dodgers vs. Tigers schedule, series preview, pitching duels and TV

The Dodgers’ attempt to survive the All-Star break has only one final stop, three games against the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit.

The Dodgers come to town fresh off a sweep by the best baseball players in the world, the Phillies, which extends the Dodgers’ losing streak to four games. They are in a tough spot, to say the least.

Veteran James Paxton starts Friday in Detroit’s opener, making his 173rd career start. Rookie Justin Wrobleski will be called up Saturday and make his second start. They are the only two left in the Dodgers’ rotation this weekend after Tyler Glasnow landed on the injured list on Tuesday and Bobby Miller was optioned on Wednesday.

There is a bullpen game on Sunday, with the Dodgers currently having nine relievers on the active roster.

There will actually be a bullpen game for both teams on Sunday, as old friend Kenta Maeda was moved to the bullpen this week.

Maeda signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers, but slumped this season with a 7.26 ERA in 16 starts and averaged just 4.10 innings per start. Of the 129 major league pitchers with at least 60 innings this season, only Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs (7.53) was worse than Maeda. The locals are getting restless.

A pitcher who Is Pitching for the Tigers is top prospect Tarik Skubal, a first-time All-Star and a potential favorite for the American League Cy Young Award. The left-hander has a 2.37 ERA and 2.76 xERA and is coming off a career-best performance last Sunday in Cincinnati with 13 strikeouts in seven innings.

Rookie Keider Montero starts for the Tigers on Saturday in just his fifth Major League appearance and fourth start. Compared to Wrobleski in the middle game of the series, he is a true seasoned veteran.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch, after serving a one-year suspension for managing the cheating Astros, found a place in Detroit in the hopes that he would be leading a team ready to compete. So far, however, that hasn’t happened: He has 78 wins in his first three seasons and is four games under .500 this year.

Detroit has been playing well lately, winning seven of their last nine games.

This is the Dodgers’ first trip to Detroit since 2017. They have a 13-7 record in interleague play this season, including 9-3 on the road. The Tigers have a 15-16 record against National League teams in 2024, including 7-10 at home.