Troy Melton is bringing a white-hot 0.76 ERA streak over his last four starts into Angel Stadium tonight as the Detroit Tigers kick off the second half of their 2026 season against the Los Angeles Angels. This guy, a 25-year-old right-hander, has been absolutely dealing, and the Angels are gonna have their hands full trying to cool him off.
Melton Is Locked In, No Kidding
You gotta be impressed with what Melton has been doing. He's making his ninth start of the season with a solid 5-1 record and a 1.82 ERA overall. But it's his recent stretch that has everyone talking. Over his last four appearances, spanning 23 2/3 innings, he's allowed one or fewer runs. That's a ridiculous 0.76 ERA and a 2.68 FIP. He's been increasing his strikeout totals almost every time he steps on the mound, even punching out a career-high nine batters in just 5 2/3 innings in his most recent outing. Melton's got a 21.7 K% and a tight 5.8 BB% for the season, proving he's not just getting lucky. He's earned that 0.7 fWAR. This is the kind of pitching that can carry a team, especially when you're looking to turn things around in the "second half."Detmers Is Hoping To Flip The Script
On the flip side, the Angels are trotting out 27-year-old lefty Reid Detmers, and he's been in a totally different groove heading into the All-Star break. His last couple of starts were brutal, no sugarcoating it. Over nine frames, Detmers put up a massive 10.00 ERA and a 7.77 FIP. He got hammered for 14 hits, including four dingers, walked four, and even threw a pair of wild pitches. He did strike out 11 in that rough stretch, but the damage was done. Overall, Detmers holds a 3-6 record with a 4.39 ERA through 19 starts and 108.2 innings, owning a 27.2 K% and 7.7 BB%. He's got 2.7 fWAR on the year, so he's capable of better, but he's gotta find it fast. The Angels are currently sitting at 38-59, with the Tigers not far ahead at 44-52. Both these squads are hungry for wins. So, get ready for a late one out of Anaheim tonight, with first pitch set for 9:38 p.m. ET. Can Detmers stop the bleeding and get things back on track, or will Melton keep his ridiculous run going? This Friday night game is all about which pitcher steps up to start the "second half" right.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.