Zimmermann hopes to end drought as Tigers battle Royals

Victor Reyes may return to the minors in the next few days. The Detroit Tigers' second-year outfielder is still making a good impression as a fill-in.

Reyes has been called up from Triple-A Toledo several times this season, most recently at the beginning of this month when center fielder JaCoby Jones was placed on the 10-day injured list with a back injury.

Reyes is expected to be in the leadoff spot once again in the finale of a three-game series against the Royals in Kansas City on Sunday. The Tigers have lost five straight, including the first two games of the series.

The Tigers can't blame Reyes for their predicament. In his first five games after the latest call-up, Reyes scored six runs with seven hits and three walks. He went hitless on Saturday but robbed Nicky Lopez of a hit with a diving catch.

Reyes will likely return to Toledo when Jones, who will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday, is ready to return.

Reyes won't stay in the minors long, especially if the team trades right fielder Nicholas Castellanos, who will be a free agent at season's end.

"He's earned himself a chance to come up here when we have injuries," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Detroit News of Reyes. "But the unfortunate part about it is, we have three outfielders and when Jonesy comes back, we're going to have to make a decision. And Reyes is not going to sit the bench up here. We can't do that to the kid. He's played well and he's swinging the bat well. It wouldn't be fair to him to sit him on the bench."

Jordan Zimmermann (0-6, 6.29 ERA), the Tigers starter on Sunday, hasn't posted a victory since last September.

If history is any indication, Zimmermann might end his drought. He's 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in nine career appearances against the Royals.

He was pounded by Boston in his last start on July 6, surrendering seven runs on 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

He'll be opposed by right-hander Homer Bailey (7-6, 4.80), who has won three of his last five starts with two no-decisions. In his last start, he gave up two runs on six hits in five innings against Cleveland on July 4.

Bailey enjoyed arguably his best outing of the year against the Tigers on June 13, holding them scoreless over six innings while giving up just two hits. He's 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in four career starts against Detroit.

The Royals' new center fielder, Bubba Starling, got his first major league hit and RBI on Saturday. The 26-year-old Starling, the team's top draft pick in 2011, was called up from Triple-A Omaha after the All-Star break.

"You know, you get out there and you look up, and you're like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm playing center field for the Kansas City Royals.' Very, very special," Starling said to MLB.com. "It's stuff you dream about. I'll cherish this the rest of my life."

Starling earned the call-up by batting .310 with seven homers and 38 RBIs in 261 at-bats with Omaha.

"When he came to spring training here this year, he was just a different guy," manager Ned Yost said to MLB.com. "Much more confident. He wasn't a swing-and-miss guy anymore."

--Field Level Media