If you can send your star player, Pablo López, out there and he can lead the Boston Dead Sox to a devastating doubleheader sweep with seven runs in four innings, then give them a chance. And if Bailey Ober, your other standout starter, can give the 99-loss Marlins four runs in the second inning in a flash… I mean, what’s the point?

The Tigers overtook the Twins on Sunday and then sent top left-hander Tarik Skubal to the field against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit. He allowed no runs and two hits in seven innings and gave the Tigers a 2-1 victory.

The Kansas City Royals also ended a seven-game losing streak. Both AL Central newcomers are now two games ahead of the Twins with five games remaining.

Much of the attention during the now 11-23 loss was due to a salary cut that cost the team strong starter Sonny Gray – and without any reasonable attempt being made to replace him.

There was also considerable public dissatisfaction with the fact that at the trade deadline, only reliever Trevor Richards was brought in from Toronto as a supposed reinforcement. He lasted 27 days and showed the wild pitch.

Despite all the complaints about the bullpen and a starting lineup that was even more pilloried after Joe Ryan’s injury, manager Rocco Baldelli was told the following observation in a pregame meeting with the media: