Pitching chaos fails in Tigers' loss vs Royals as losing streak mounts
Detroit Tigers score: "Pitching chaos" couldn't keep the Royals from scoring 5 runs and handing the Tigers their fifth straight loss on Saturday.
KANSAS CITY, MO ā Saturday, May 9, marked five games since the Detroit Tigers placed reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the injured list. They've lost all five games. Skubal would've started for the Tigers on Saturday in the second of three games against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, but he continues to recover from surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow.
The Tigers lost, 5-1, in their 12th defeat in their past 19 games. THE LATEST: Tigers legend Justin Verlander throws simulated game in injury rehab The Tigers (18-22) will try to avoid a sweep from the Royals (19-21) on Sunday (7:20 p. m.
, Peacock) in a bullpen-only game without left-hander Framber Valdez, who will miss his scheduled start while serving a suspension. In Saturday's game, the Tigers turned to ā pitching chaos ā in Skubal's absence. The unorthodox opener-bulk reliever strategy made famous in their magical run to the 2024 postseason failed against the Royals, as right-handed reliever Burch Smith surrendered two runs as the opener on an inside-the-park home run in the first inning.
Right-hander Ty Madden served as the bulk reliever for the second time since being called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace Skubal, coming out of the bullpen in the third inning. Madden took down six innings. But he allowed three runs on a three-run home run with two outs in the fourth inning.
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