Note: Series Recaps will look a little different during the second half of the season, looking at one week at a time. Box scores will include all games during the week, and three hitters and three pitchers will be highlighted.

The Tigers come out flat after the All-Star break, as the trade deadline quickly approaches.

Fri 7/17: Tigers 7 – Orioles 3

The Tigers started off with an early 2-0 lead, as Victor Martinez homered in the 1st inning. After Ian Kinsler singled and Yoenis Cespedes bunted into a fielder’s choice, Victor took a Ubaldo Jimenez pitch out to right field.

homered in the 1st inning. After Ian Kinsler singled and Yoenis Cespedes bunted into a fielder’s choice, Victor took a Ubaldo Jimenez pitch out to right field. With a man on and two outs in the 3rd inning, Chris Davis almost tied the game for the Orioles. Instead, JD Martinez jumped above the wall to save a 2-run homer, preserving the lead for shaky Anibal Sanchez.

jumped above the wall to save a 2-run homer, preserving the lead for shaky Anibal Sanchez. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Alex Avila and James McCann hit consecutive one-out singles before Jose Iglesias surprisingly hit a 3-run home run. The Tigers went ahead 6-2 and held on for the rest of the game.

Sat 7/18: Orioles 3 – Tigers 0

After an Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez occupied the corners with one out in the 1st inning, it looked like the Tigers might be off to another quick start. Instead, the next 26 straight batters were retired, shutting out the Tigers.

and occupied the corners with one out in the 1st inning, it looked like the Tigers might be off to another quick start. Instead, the next 26 straight batters were retired, shutting out the Tigers. David Price was raking up strikeouts, but ran into some trouble in the 6th inning after a lead-off double and two-out error. However, he escaped the inning unharmed to keep the Tigers down just 1-0.

was raking up strikeouts, but ran into some trouble in the 6th inning after a lead-off double and two-out error. However, he escaped the inning unharmed to keep the Tigers down just 1-0. Bruce Rondon was brought on to keep the score close in the 9th inning but was unsuccessful. He allow two singles and two doubles to push the deficit to 3-0 while only recording two outs.

Sun 7/19: Orioles 9 – Tigers 3

Down 1-0 in the 3rd inning, the Tigers had an interesting frame. Marc Krauss singled and was picked off first, and Ian Kinsler flied out and was ejected after arguing with the umpire, before Anthony Gose hit an RBI single with two on and two out.

hit an RBI single with two on and two out. Justin Verlander really struggled in the 4th inning, as the game quickly slipped away from him and the Tigers. He allowed three singles, two doubles, a walk, and a homer as the Orioles lead ballooned to 7-1.

really struggled in the 4th inning, as the game quickly slipped away from him and the Tigers. He allowed three singles, two doubles, a walk, and a homer as the Orioles lead ballooned to 7-1. The Tigers tried to crawl back into the game in the 5th inning, but only were able to grab one run. After a Jose Igelsias double and Jefry Marte walk, a Yoenis Cespedes single made it a 7-2 game, but it was not enough offense for the Tigers.

Perhaps no Tiger ended the first half of the season hotter than JD Martinez , but he was a little cold against the Orioles. He did hit a home run for his 26th of the year, but collected just one other hit during the series.

, but he was a little cold against the Orioles. He did hit a home run for his 26th of the year, but collected just one other hit during the series. Alex Avila will get plenty of opportunities to play with Miguel Cabrera absent, both at first base and behind the plate. However, he will need to do better than his 2/11 performance against Baltimore. He is hitting just .194, but has a .336 OBP this season.

will get plenty of opportunities to play with Miguel Cabrera absent, both at first base and behind the plate. However, he will need to do better than his 2/11 performance against Baltimore. He is hitting just .194, but has a .336 OBP this season. One Tigers hitter who had a productive series was Jose Iglesias. He went 5/10 and had 3 RBI as he continues to provide stellar defense and offensive spark at the bottom of the batting order.

David Price struggled a bit with pitch count, but was very strong on Saturday. He tallied 12 K through in just 7 IP while giving up 6 hits and just 1 run via a solo shot.

struggled a bit with pitch count, but was very strong on Saturday. He tallied 12 K through in just 7 IP while giving up 6 hits and just 1 run via a solo shot. His talent is unquestionable, but Bruce Rondon has struggled in the major leagues. He had mixed results during the series, but ended with an unappealing 5 H and 2 R in 1-2/3 IP with 3 K.

has struggled in the major leagues. He had mixed results during the series, but ended with an unappealing 5 H and 2 R in 1-2/3 IP with 3 K. Justin Verlander had a few good starts, but that did not continue on Sunday. He was rocked for 8 hits and 7 runs in less than 4 innings and does not look like the type of starter that the Tigers desperately need.

UP NEXT & EXPECTED STARTERS

The Tigers face the Mariners for four games at home before going to Fenway over the weekend

Mon 7/20, 7:08 pm- Simon vs. Walker

Tue 7/21, 7:08 pm- Greene vs. Nuno

Wed 7/22, 7:08 pm- Sanchez vs. Montgomery

Thu 7/23, 1:08 pm- Price vs. Iwakuma

Fri 7/24, 7:10 pm- Verlander vs. Rodriguez

Sat 7/25, 4:05 pm- Simon vs. Wright

Sun 7/26, 8:00 pm- Greene vs. Johnson