Trade talk circling as Tigers open series vs. Athletics

The Detroit Tigers are seven games below .500 and rating as big disappointments as the trade deadline nears.

A strong performance against the free-falling Athletics may be a necessity to avoid at least a partial teardown as the Tigers open the three-game set on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Detroit was part of the playoff field the past two seasons but stands 4 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians, who currently hold the American League's third wild-card spot. Four other teams are between the Tigers and Guardians.

Detroit ace left-hander Tarik Skubal has been the topic of many trade rumors. The two-time AL Cy Young winner is slated to become a free agent following the season.

Skubal is well aware that his Wednesday outing might have been his final one for the Tigers. He took a 7-0 lead into the seventh inning before tiring, and Detroit ended up losing 10-9 in 12 innings to the Baltimore Orioles.

"It's been a helluva ride," said Skubal, sounding as if he expects to be elsewhere by Monday. "I wouldn't change anything, wouldn't change one bit of it, just my whole story, my whole life. It made me who I am, and I appreciate that.

"It is a little nostalgic, right? I don't really like thinking like that. Hopefully there's a lot more in the future, too. It's cool nonetheless."

The Tigers are expected to call up No. 1 prospect Max Clark from Triple-A Toledo prior to the opener. The outfielder is the No. 13 prospect in the big leagues, according to MLB Pipeline.

Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, was batting .276 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs in 90 games at Toledo.

Detroit traded catcher Jake Rogers to the Orioles on Thursday for minor-league right-hander Zane Barnhart. Rogers had been designated for assignment by the club on Tuesday.

The Athletics have dropped five of six games and 26 of 33 after falling 5-4 to the visiting Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz (left forearm) was in the lineup after an MRI exam came back clean. He went 0-for-4 with a walk one day after being plunked by Red Sox left-hander Patrick Sandoval on Wednesday night.

"Everything was clean on the MRI," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. "Outside of just the bruising in the area, he feels strong and feels good. We escaped one there."

Kurtz is in a 1-for-34 slump over his past 11 games.

Right-hander Casey Mize (4-6, 2.70 ERA) takes the mound for the Tigers in the opener. He is winless over his last three starts (0-1).

Mize pitched well against the Kansas City Royals last Saturday when he gave up one run and three hits over six innings.

Mize, 29, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in two career starts against the Athletics. He served up four homers over 8 1/3 innings. Kurtz (2-for-2, one walk) has reached base in all three of his plate appearances against Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-10, 6.23) is winless over his last 17 starts after winning his first three decisions this season.

Springs lasted just 1 1/3 innings during last Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He gave up five runs (four earned) and four hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Springs, 33, lost to the Tigers on July 8 when he gave up six runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings. He served up a three-run homer to Spencer Torkelson and a two-run blast to since-traded Rogers.

Springs is 2-2 with a 2.95 ERA in four career starts against Detroit. Torkelson has taken Springs deep twice and Gleyber Torres also has hit one off him.

--Field Level Media