Detroit Tigers go for sweep against Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday

[ASFN Admin]

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Don’t look now, but the Detroit Tigers are undefeated in June after their 8-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night. Sure, the month is only two days old, but the Motor City Kitties have already scored as many runs (18) over the past pair of games as they did in the final six-and-a-half games of May.

I have no clue what happened to this team when the calendar flipped, but I am loving it!

On Wednesday afternoon, AJ Hinch’s squad will try to complete the sweep of the Rays with right-hander Troy Melton on the mound. The 25-year-old has provided some much-needed quality innings in his two starts so far in the 2026 campaign, and hopefully, he can continue to do so in the finale of the three-game series.

This will be his first-ever appearance against Tampa Bay.

Up against him will be fellow righty Nick Martinez, who has been superb so far this season, throwing seven straight quality starts — including three straight coming into Wednesday — while allowing no more than two runs in any of his 11 outings. The 35-year-old’s strikeout numbers are not particularly impressive, but he has been extraordinarily stingy when it comes to handing out free passes.

The last time Martinez faced the Tigers was last year on June 13, when he allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames to take the loss. Hopefully, Detroit can replicate that effort — or better — on Wednesday.

Here is a look at how the two match up.

Detroit Tigers (24-38) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (36-22)​

Time (ET): 1:10 p.m.
Place: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
SB Nation Site:DRaysBay
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 63: RHP Troy Melton (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (5-1, 1.62 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Melton	2	12.2	8.0	8.0	38.1	3.40	0.3
Martinez	11	66.2	15.2	4.5	40.1	3.26	1.6

MELTON

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MARTINEZ

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