Tigers' Jahmai Jones has first start nixed by stomach flu
Jahmai Jones waited all season to face a left-handed starting pitcher, but then a stomach flu put him on the bench against K.C. tonight.
Detroit — The world ain’t right. Lefty-slayer Jahmai Jones has patiently waited all season for the Tigers to face a left-handed starting pitcher. For 16 straight games, teams sent one right-hander after another to the mound.
Which meant Jones, with his . 970 OPS against lefties last season, had to wait for a possible pinch-hit at-bat against a lefty reliever later in the game. And he only got six of those through the first two-plus weeks of the season.
Finally, the Kansas City Royals come to town and lefty Cole Ragans is starting the first game of the series. At last, Jones will get a start. Nope.
“He waited six days for a left-handed starter and he came up sick today,” manager AJ Hinch said. The stomach virus passed through the Tigers' clubhouse while the team was in Minnesota last weekend and finally caught up to Jones Monday. “He’s had a rough 24 hours,” Hinch said.