Series Preview: Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees

by MatthewLaFave on Mar 31, 2011 11:00 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Analysis

Detroit Tigers (0-0) at New York Yankees (0-0)

Probable Pitchers:
Thursday March 31 1:05p: RHP Justin Verlander vs. LHP CC Sabathia
Saturday April 2 4:10p: RHP Brad Penny vs. RHP A.J. Burnett
Sunday April 3 1:05p: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Phil Hughes

Lineup notes:
Expected batting order

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Will Rhymes, 2B
3. Magglio Ordoñez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Ryan Raburn, LF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Brandon Inge, 3B
9. Alex Avila, C

Tigers manager Jim Leyland has said that Brennan Boesch will play Game 2 on Saturday, likely batting 6th for Raburn.

Analysis: The Tigers will put Justin Verlander on the mound for Game 1 and if you know anything about how he pitches in March and April than you should be a little worried (7-11, 5.06 ERA). But he came into spring this year with a completely different outlook, he's never been so confident. It translated to a very productive spring(3-0, .96 ERA) and we can only hope it translates to a great start to the season. Yankees counter with CC Sabathia who had a 3.31 ERA with 10 strikeouts in spring training this year. Of the current Tigers to face him, Miguel Cabrera has been the most productive (.538 BA, 9 RBI, 2 HR). But will his offseason troubles get him to a slow start? Brandon Inge on the other hand has had the most trouble with CC batting a dismal .151 with 15 strikeouts. But are you really surprised?
Prediction: Tigers win 4-2

The Game Thread will go live at 12:30, by the way!

Game 2:
DET: Brad Penny (1-1 record with a 6.60 ERA vs. New York)
Player to watch - Andruw Jones (.333 BA, 13 RBI, 6 HR vs Penny)
NYY: A.J. Burnett (3-1 record, 7.34 ERA vs. Detroit)
Player to watch - Victor Martinez (2 for 5 HR, 2B vs. Burnett in 2010)
Prediction: Yankees win 9-3

Game 3:
DET: Max Scherzer (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 K's vs. New York)
Player to watch - Andruw Jones (.400 BA, .571 OBP vs. Scherzer)
NYY: Phil Hughes (4-2, 3.69 ERA, 36 K's vs. Detroit)
Player to watch - Miguel Cabrera (.417 BA, 1 HR vs. Hughes)
Prediction: Tigers win 5-4

Tweet Comment 43 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

nothing like seeing the record 0-0. How in the world do people not get pumped for days like today. GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!

Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2011

by joshd12 on Mar 31, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Let's go!

is it 1:05 yet?

Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Mar 31, 2011 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Can't wait

Gonna try to be more active on here this year, wasn’t so much last year.

by ThaWalrus9 on Mar 31, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Today is Opening Day. I couldn’t sleep last night. [cuts to clips of me dancing around the empty office] I came in extra early, so much energy. There’s certain days that you know you will remember for the rest of your life. And I just have a feeling that today is one of those days.

by brothe15 on Mar 31, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Love, love, love 1-5.

But man, that 6-9 will smother many a rally in the crib. Yikes.

With those who don't give a damn about baseball, I can only sympathize. I do not resent them. I am even willing to concede that many of them are physically clean, good to their mothers and in favor of world peace. But while the game is on, I can't think of anything to say to them. ~ Art Hill

by crwi on Mar 31, 2011 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

I love 6 way more than 2.

by rcpratt on Mar 31, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

6 won't hurt us at all baby

He’ll be driving in those guys 1-5 who get on base…or at least the ones Miggy and Vmart leave for him

Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Mar 31, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Wooo!!

Christmas has arrived. Of course I have class all day, but I’m ducking out on my 2:00 to catch the action!

That lineup makes me very excited

Chicks dig me, because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it's usually something unusual

by BrianCMU. on Mar 31, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

Better than Christmas!

And New Years, St. Patties, Halloween, Birthdays… anything.

Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Mar 31, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Miss ya Ernie

For, lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

StadiumDrives.com

by Grubby stadiumdrives.com on Mar 31, 2011 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

might want to rethink that second line!

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 31, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't question Ernie!!!

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Mar 31, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Why isn't Maggs hyperlinked?

TRIUMPHANT Mascot of the "Bring back the Big Tilde in 2k11" Campaign

by Dale S on Mar 31, 2011 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

SB Nation probably didn't recognize the fancy pants curly

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 31, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

His name isn't tilde'd in SBN's database.

by rcpratt on Mar 31, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

no Tilde?

Someone get Suss— on that

"I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food" - Ron Swanson

by rock n rye on Mar 31, 2011 12:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Hello All

Can’t believe opening day is finally here! I have a great feeling about this year, and aside from the twinkies and sox, there isn’t another team I want to smash more on day 1.

by tigers4ever on Mar 31, 2011 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Amen to that

Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Mar 31, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Finally leaving work!

Time has just been crawlin by this morning. I’ll check back in on the game thread in a bit.

Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Mar 31, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

Not looking good for a game today

Weather is not good in NY

by BennieBladesFan on Mar 31, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

MLBN

says the tarp is off the field for the first time today. Rain looks like it will hold off until about 3:00pm. We could get a few innings in and then wait, wait, wait …..

Rooting for Tiger stripes, not pinstripes

by JerseyTigerFan on Mar 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions