MLB Game Preview - Philadelphia at Detroit
Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:10 PM EDT

STL
4
PIT
3
F
COL
1
WSH
11
F
CLE
1
TOR
2
F(10)
SD
2
NYM
5
F
PHI
3
DET
2
F(15)
BOS
5
TB
4
F
KC
5
ATL
4
F
NYY
14
MIN
12
F(10)
CIN
14
MIL
6
F
OAK
4
HOU
3
F(11)
MIA
5
CHW
1
F
BAL
7
ARI
2
F
CHC
4
SF
5
F(13)
TEX
7
SEA
2
F
LAA
5
LAD
4
F
Aces to duel as Tigers host Phillies
Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:35 PM

A pair of aces will start at Detroit's Comerica Park on Tuesday. One of them may be shuffled to another team before his next outing.

Philadelphia comes to town with right-hander Aaron Nola looking to bounce back from an unusually mediocre performance. The Tigers counter with left-hander Matthew Boyd, who might be making his last home start as the front office seeks a trade package for him.

Nola gave up four runs, including three homers, over five innings in a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Nola (8-2, 3.77 ERA) hadn't given up more than one earned run in his previous five starts. Nola is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against Detroit.

The Phillies' cleanup hitter gave himself and the team a confidence boost on Sunday. Rhys Hoskins hit a solo homer in the 11th inning at Pittsburgh, allowing Philadelphia to squeak out a 2-1 win. That was his 21st homer this season but just the second in July.

"He's had bad luck," manager Gabe Kapler said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But this could do a lot for him. It really could. I think the confidence level will rise from him hitting a game-winning home run for us."

The Phillies have won five of their last eight as they fight for a wild-card berth, if not the division title. Hoskins had gone hitless in four of his previous five games before his two-hit outing Sunday, including the long ball.

"Sometimes you need a reminder that you can do it, you can still do it," Hoskins said to the Inquirer. "I barreled a ball right at a guy early in the game. But it just doesn't feel the same when it doesn't get the job done. Hopefully it's big."

Phillies shortstop Jean Segura left Sunday's game with a heel injury and his status for this week is questionable.

Boyd (6-8) is considered the Tigers' best trade chip but he hasn't enhanced his value lately. He's given up between three and five earned runs in his last eight starts. His ERA has risen from 2.85 to 4.13 during that span.

He's still piling up strikeouts, fanning 42 batters in his last four starts. Boyd will be facing Philadelphia for the first time in his career.

Detroit's cleanup hitter also had a game-winning blast on Sunday. Nicholas Castellanos hit a solo homer in the 10th, giving his team a 4-3 win over Toronto. The Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak.

"I love these guys," Castellanos said to the Detroit News. "I love this team. We've been through a lot. The personalities on this team, they want to do good so bad because for a lot of them this is their first opportunity. The fact that they were jumping all over me and we're all smiling after a big win -- that's a good moment."

The Tigers had won only one other game at home since June 8 prior to Sunday.

"It's been frustrating around here, especially at home," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "To finally come through and have a good ballgame here today, that's important. That's important that we start doing some of those things at home and get on a roll here. We needed it. We've been knocked down pretty good so far. That's a good win."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Philadelphia            
Detroit            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Aaron Nola - PHI
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Detroit
Matthew Boyd - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Philadelphia

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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