Tigers Could Name New Closer

It won’t surprise anybody if the Tigers name a new closer today before the game in Phoenix.   Its being widely speculated that Manager Brad Ausmus will sit down with closer Francisco Rodriguez and tell him he’s not the teams closing reliever any more.  “K-Rod” has struggled so far, blowing four saves with an earned run average of 8.49.  The Tigers bullpen has been solid for the most part this season, with the exception of Rodriguez.  Shane Green, Blaine Hardy, and Alex and Justin Wilson have very low earned run averages.

The Tigers start a series with the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on tonight. Justin Verlander will start against former Tiger Robbie Ray.  Ray, a lefty, was a Tiger in 2014 after the Tigers traded Doug Fister to Washington for him.  They ended up dealing him to get current reliever Shane Green.   Broadcast time is 9:15 on 95.3 WBCK.

Tigers’ outfielder JaCoby Jones turns 25 tomorrow but won’t be celebrating in the Tigers’ dugout.  The promising young outfielder is off the disabled list after getting hit in the mouth with a pitch, but the Tigers have decided to keep him in the minors for now to get in more work.   Journeyman outfielder Jim Adduci has played well with Detroit, and the team is about to activate outfielder J.D. Martinez.