The Thursday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers from Comerica Park. The Angels (61-61) have won consecutive games and are eight games back in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot. Last night, All-Star Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run of the season and was the winning pitcher during a 3-1 road victory against Detroit.
Twenty-four year old left-hander Patrick Sandoval (3-6 3.62 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels in this matchup. Through 87 innings, Sandoval has struck out 94 batters and owns a respectable 1.21 WHIP.
The Detroit Tigers are four games above .500 at home and are 13 games off the pace in the AL Central Division standings. On Wednesday, Detroit managed just six hits and struck out ten times in defeat. OF Willi Castro hit a solo shot in a losing effort for the Tigers, who fell to 58-64 on the season.
Rookie right-hander Matt Manning (3-5 6.10 ERA) will make his 11th career major league start for the Tigers. Last time out, Manning allowed three runs in six innings during a 6-4 road victory against Baltimore.
