Darin

What a confusing headline! So many uppers and downers that we all might end up on the ground in confusion! Of course, that’s what happens when a small snowball (Doug Fister lasting four innings…) begins to build (…which means the bullpen was used for five innings…) and build (…and therefore is on short supply…) and build (…especially since Max Scherzer is dealing with a sore hamstring…) and build (…so now Duane Below will start Tuesday evening…) and keep rolling until it’s a titanic size (…and some new names will be accompanying him so that the Tigers actually have some middle relievers.)

That was fun. But almost as confusing as the headline. Sorry.

Tuesday night Duane Arthur Below will be making his first start of the season and third of his career. His two previous attempts at slinging the ball from the start of the game came in June of last season, on the 20th and 25th and neither one resulted in Tiger victories.

His first was against Oakland, and as it was his major league debut, you’ll have to nod your head as he lasted five innings (pitched into the sixth), allowed five hits and a walk and one earned run. He threw 77 pitches and then watched the Tigers bullpen allow four runs in the seventh inning to lose the game. His second game he didn’t last five innings against the Chicago White Sox, and gave…well, he just wasn’t that good.

Accompanying the Britton, Michigan native at Comerica Park in Detroit will be Southfield boy, Darin Downs, who I really like as a LOOGY, and non-Michigan born Jose Ortega, who has faced three big league batters and gotten one of them out.

Heading down to Toledo will be the Tigers favorite whipping boy, Danny Worth, who hasn’t had a plate appearance in two weeks, and Luis Marte, who pitched Monday night and walked four of the ten batters he faced. Worth is obviously going to know the I-75 corridor between Detroit and Toledo better than the back of his hand by the time his first five big league years go by, and while Marte hasn’t been bad his 5.87 FIP suggests that he will be sooner than later.

Update 12:35 P.M.

Matt Young was designated for assignments so Darin Downs’ contract could be purchased and placed on the 40 man roster.