The Tigers are calling on Missouri native Jacob Turner to make his season debut against the Cardinals this afternoon. Turner, who started three games for Detroit last year, had a 3.43 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 42 innings at Triple-A before getting called up. Here are today's AL Central links…
- If Turner stays in the Major Leagues from this point on, he'll have two years and 134 days of service time after the 2014 season. There's a good chance it'd be enough for Super Two status, but it won't be enough to accelerate Turner's free agency. However, the Tigers' primary focus is no doubt winning games this year.
- Ryan Doumit, who signed a one-year, $3MM contract with the Twins last offseason, has enjoyed playing in Minnesota and has interest in returning next season, Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com reports. No extension talks have taken place, and there’s a sense the Twins will wait until after the trade deadline before determining how Doumit fits into their long-term plans, Mackey writes.
- The Royals won’t necessarily be sellers this summer, scouts tell Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The Royals are in fourth place in the AL Central, 4.5 games behind the division-leading Indians.
RE: Royals.
It’s one thing to be ‘only’ 4.5 games out. It’s another to be 4.5 games out and in 4th place. Three teams in front of you have to lose.
Not impossible, just a little more difficult to expect.
True, but there’s 35 games or so until the trade deadline. It’s not like they have to make a decision to buy or sell tomorrow. They can wait 20 games and see where they are then.
I am a tigers fan, and personally I am worried about the Royals. Since that horrible horrible horrible start they are playing pretty well and their young guys will start to figure it out more. Also they could bring up some sp prospects and who knows. That whole division is so close. If the tigers are still in it, I dont see how the Royals arent.
I see your point, but you’re discounting how well the Royals have actually played for most of this season. On April 24, they were a godawful 3-14, thanks to that 0-10 disaster of a homestand where everything that could go wrong did.
Over their next 50 games, however, they went 28-22 for a .560 winning percentage during that time. If they do that over their last 95 games, they finish at 84-78. Based on current records and winning percentages, Cleveland and Chicago project to 86 & 85 wins, respectively. So, no, I don’t necessarily think it’s more difficult to expect, especially if you’re a KC fan who watches this young team every day. We expect to win now.
Also remember that Odorizzi and Meyers will be joining the team within the next month. Odorizzi will have a learning curve but I fully expect Meyers to hit the ground running.
I haven’t heard about Montgomery, how’s he doing in the minors?
Could be Turner being “show cased” as MLB ready? Say, for a Garza deal? Just throwing it out there…
Probably not. He is needed with the injury to smyly and was without doubt the Tigets best choice for a spot start or two.
Turner isn’t untouchable, but he’s is about as close to it as they come.
This is very likely a one and done call up for Turner. Drew Smyly is on schedule to come off the DL next week and make his scheduled start. Barring a delay in those plans or an injury to another pitcher, JT will be back in Toledo.
I wonder if there is a lot of work going on in the background. I mean the tigers are in a win now mode, maybe scouts will be watching turner closely as he is potentially traded for a front line win now starter.
If this really is a “showcase” and Turner is starting today because scouts from other teams are watching, then in my opinion Turner has passed with flying colors. Nice performance against the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals so far. Someone above speculated that the Cubs and Matt Garza might be involved here and while I can’t confirm if that is true, a good pitching performance against the Cardinals certainly would look that much sweeter to Cub officials I can tell you that. I feel like I have heard so much about Jacob Turner and it’s hard to believe he’s still only 21 years old. He has a lot of potential and his trade stock just got a little bit higher with this outing.
Porcello will be traded before turner. This is not a showcasing.