Detroit Tigers game vs. Cincinnati Reds: Time, TV channel, lineup for bullpen game
Detroit Tigers (40-48) at Cincinnati Reds (42-46)
When: 4:10 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1). (Tigers radio affiliates).
Probable pitchers: Tigers TBD (bullpen game) vs. Reds RHP Hunter Greene (5-4, 3.70 ERA).
Weather: Partly cloudy and mid 80s.
Tigers lineup: TBD.
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Game notes: It feels like 2023 again, because the Detroit Tigers are set to have a bullpen-only game on Saturday.
Last year, amidst a run of injuries, it felt like every few days A.J. Hinch and the Tigers' staff were scrambling to find a bullpen arm.
Over the course of 2023, 17 different pitchers got a start for the Tigers, including Mason Englert, Tyler Holton, Tyler Alexander and Beau Brieske, who all started just one game. This year, there have only been eight pitchers so far to start for Detroit. That makes Hinch's job a lot easier.
However, between the recent back issues that Jack Flaherty has been dealing with that has caused him to miss two starts but not go to the injured list, as well as Casey Mize's recent designation to the injured list for a hamstring injury, there has been a lot more shuffling in the rotation.
As of Friday morning, the Tigers had named just one starter for the next week of games, and that is AL Cy Young frontrunner Tarik Skubal, who is set to take on the Reds on Sunday to close out the series.
Barring a setback, Flaherty is set to make a start against the Cleveland Guardians next week at Comerica Park.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have called up right-handed starter Keider Montero for an extended stay, who got his first win Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins.
That means an already-taxed bullpen will be picking up the slack over the next few days while the Tigers wait for their rotation to get more healthy.
After the game Saturday, the Tigers will close out their interleague series against the Reds with Skubal trying to continue his dominance.
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