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The Detroit Tigers are putting their playoff hopes in the hands of a rookie. According to a report from Evan Woodbery, right-hander Troy Melton will start tonight’s series finale against the Cleveland Guardians, a game that suddenly feels like must-win territory.
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Tigers have slipped out of first place in the American League Central. To make matters worse, they now hold just a one-game lead over the Houston Astros for the final AL Wild Card spot. The pressure couldn’t be higher.
Melton, 24, has quietly put together a strong season in limited action. Over 15 appearances (3 starts), he owns a 3-2 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 42 innings. His last outing came against the Braves on September 20, when he tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
This will be just the fourth career start for Melton, and it comes against a Guardians team that has all the momentum after overtaking Detroit in the division race. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Melton has shown poise and command early in his career, keeping hitters to just 6.2 hits per nine innings.
The Tigers desperately need a spark, and maybe their rookie right-hander can deliver it. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET in Cleveland.
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Jeff Bilbrey
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