The Detroit Tigers are playing their best baseball in weeks, and another opportunity against a contender awaits.
Fresh off a dramatic three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox, Detroit welcomes the American League East-leading New York Yankees to Comerica Park Monday night to begin a three-game series.
The Tigers enter the series at 33-44, winners of three straight, and riding momentum after taking series from three first-place clubs during June. Meanwhile, New York arrives at 46-30 despite dropping two of three games to Cincinnati over the weekend.
A series win would give Detroit its fourth series victory over a division leader this month.
Tigers Finding Momentum
Sunday’s 5-4 extra-inning victory over Chicago capped an impressive week for AJ Hinch’s club.
Detroit sits 11-6 during June and has climbed within striking distance of the final American League Wild Card spot. The return of Tarik Skubal has coincided with the team’s recent surge, and the Tigers have once again turned Comerica Park into one of their biggest advantages.
The Yankees, meanwhile, struggled with runners in scoring position against Cincinnati, finishing the weekend 0-for-22 in those situations.
Monday’s opener presents another measuring-stick series for Detroit.
Framber Valdez Gets The Ball
Detroit will send veteran left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound.
Valdez enters with a 3-5 record and a 4.09 ERA across 83.2 innings. Despite the uneven results, he has delivered eight quality starts and continues to generate ground balls at an elite level, ranking near the top of baseball with a ground-ball rate above 50 percent.
His sinker remains his primary weapon, complemented by a changeup and curveball that help keep hitters off balance.
Valdez is coming off one of his best outings of the season, allowing one unearned run across six innings against Houston.
Consistency remains the biggest question. The veteran has alternated strong starts with outings where command issues have led to trouble.
Cole Looking Sharp In Return
The Yankees counter with Gerrit Cole, who is making his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery.
The 35-year-old owns a 2-1 record with a 2.57 ERA and has held opponents to a .199 batting average. His fastball velocity has returned, and Statcast metrics suggest the veteran right-hander remains among baseball’s elite pitchers.
Cole’s 92nd percentile expected ERA and strong contact suppression numbers highlight how effective he has been since returning.
Detroit’s lineup faces one of its toughest assignments of the season.
Players To Watch
Kerry Carpenter
Carpenter owns a .444 career average against Cole and has enjoyed success against the Yankees ace in previous meetings.
Kevin McGonigle
The rookie enters Monday riding a seven-game hitting streak and continues to provide a spark at the top of Detroit’s lineup.
Riley Greene
Despite going 2-for-11 against the White Sox over the weekend, Greene remains one of Detroit’s most dangerous hitters and could be poised for a bounce-back series.
Cody Bellinger
The Yankees outfielder collected three hits against Cincinnati and remains one of New York’s hottest bats entering the series.
Another Chance Against A Contender
Detroit has repeatedly answered the challenge against top teams throughout June.
Now, another first-place club comes to town.
If the Tigers continue their recent run, they could find themselves back in the thick of the Wild Card race by the end of the month.
Game Information
New York Yankees (46-30) vs. Detroit Tigers (33-44)
Comerica Park
6:10 p.m. ET
⚾ Gerrit Cole (2-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (3-5, 4.09 ERA)
Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV
Tigers Radio Network