(Photo: Robin Buckson, Detroit News)
Pittsburgh, Pa. — Tigers rookie right-hander Spencer Turnbull said it three starts ago, after another high-pitch count, low-innings start against Tampa Bay.
“I think I need to make an adjustment,” Turnbull said that night after he was outdueled by the Rays' Charlie Morton. “They aren’t swinging at my slider. I have to throw it in the strike zone more often so they can’t just eliminate it.”
Easier said than done, of course, especially for a pitcher like Turnbull who possesses dynamic, hard-to-harness movement on his pitches. But it is clear the good-hitting teams have come to a consensus plan of attack against him.