Detroit Tigers

Tigers outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo provided the only offense for Detroit through the first five innings in Tuesday's loss to Baltimore. 

Tuiasosopo took starter Zach Britton deep to right field for a solo home run, his third of the year, in the fifth. He finished 1 for 3 and is batting .333. 

Tuiasosopo has seen just 69 at-bats this season. He has at least one hit in six of his last seven appearances with five runs scored, four doubles, a homer and three RBI over that span. 

Tigers starter Justin Verlander suffered his shortest career outing against the Baltimore franchise Tuesday night at home. Baltimore battered Verlander over just five innings as the starter took the loss.

Verlander, who falls to 8-5 with the defeat, allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks over his five innings. He needed 102 pitches and struck out five batters. Verlander was hurt in the fourth inning by a J.J. Hardy two-run homer. He gave up a three-run blast to Adam Jones in the fifth.

He had won his previous four consecutive decisions over five solid outings before losing Tuesday. He has 106 strikeouts over 92 innings and should be able to bounce right back on Sunday against Boston.

Tigers reliever Drew Smyly, who earned a three-inning save Monday against the Orioles, has pitched well in different bullpen roles. That said, Smyly is still a future starter for the Tigers, the Detroit News reports. 

For now, however, Detroit is very happy with the production Smyly is giving them out of the bullpen.

"To be honest with you," said manager Jim Leyland, "this is a kind of nice year for Smyly. He’s getting another year under his belt without a lot of pressure. It hasn’t been perfect, by any means, but I think it’s been pretty good."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday before a game at home against the Orioles that designated hitter and former backstop Victor Martinez likely won't catch anymore, MLive.com reports. 

"I won't catch Victor unless it's some freak situation," Leyland promised. "I don't think [Alex] Avila being on the DL applies as a 'freak situation'."

V-Mart is struggling with the bat right now as he's gone 3 for 24 (.125) over his last seven games with a .179 on-base percentage. He's grounded into five double plays over that stretch. 

Heading into Tuesday, Tigers starter Max Scherzer was the No. 1 pitcher in all of Fantasy. But can the undefeated righty finish the season atop his position?

Al Melchior said on Tuesday’s Fantasy Baseball Today that it’s possible but mentioned some stiff competition that could round into form as the season progresses -- including Scherzer’s teammate Justin Verlander. Melchior also offered up his choice between Scherzer and Felix Hernandez.