There is one thing for certain about Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. Both managers will make plenty of pitching changes. Both teams will treat the series finale in Detroit as a bullpen day, with the Tigers naming right-handed reliever Beau Brieske as their opener while the Dodgers have yet to name a starter.
Injuries have played havoc with the Dodgers' rotation. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow and Walker Buehler are all on the injured list and at various stages of rehab. Also on Saturday, ESPN reported that right-hander Dustin May, who has yet to pitch this season as he recovers from arm surgery, will miss the remainder of this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn esophagus.
The Tigers have a starter, Casey Mize, on the injured list. Jack Flaherty missed a start earlier this month, while Kenta Maeda has been banished to the bullpen. Maeda has given up a combined 15 runs in 6 1/3 innings in two July starts.
"I think both teams would lobby to play seven innings (Sunday)," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said.
"We're both pretty beat up with a bullpen game coming." For his part, Brieske has given up two runs on seven hits in eight innings over three career appearances against Los Angeles, including one start. A former starter (all 15 appearances were starts in his rookie 2022 season), Brieske is 1-0 with a 3.
52 ERA in 18 appearances this season. The teams have split the first two games of the series. Shohei Ohtani's two.