American League Central week in review: 5/2/14 – 5/8/14

May 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Victor Martinez (41) hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. (Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Detroit Tigers

last week: 6-1 (swept the Royals in a three-game series, won 3 of 4 v Houston)

Yesterday’s loss snapped a winning streak of eight games. You wouldn’t figure it would be the Astros that would break up that streak.

A question the Detroit offense faced this season was “protection” for Miguel Cabrera. Don’t think we should have concerned ourselves with that as Victor Martinez has “filled that void”. Maybe even better than the departed Prince Fielder.

This season, VMart already has 7 home runs, which is exactly half of his total for all of 2013. Four of those home runs have occurred when he’s leading off an inning. It gets even better. In 126 PA, Martinez has struck out a total of 5 times (4.0%). Wonder how many players have struck out that many times two consecutive games?

This week’s schedule: Minnesota (3), @ Baltimore (3), off Thursday