Series Preview: Tigers at Pirates

Detroit Tigers (22-21) at Pittsburgh Pirates (20-23)

Probable Pitchers:
Friday, May 20 7:05p:
RHP Brad Penny (4-3, 4.11 ERA, 23 K)
Hitter to Fear: Lyle Overbay (4 for 11, 1 2B, 1 3B)
Hitter to Fail: Chris Snyder (2 for 10, 1 K)

at

RHP Jeff Karstens (2-2, 3.62 ERA, 29 K)
Hitter to Fear: Alex Avila (1 for 3, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Miguel Cabrera (0 for 3, 1 GIDP)

Saturday, May 21 7:05p:
RHP Max Scherzer (6-0, 2.81 ERA, 53 K)
Hitter to Fear: Ronny Cedeno (2 for 2, 2 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Lyle Overbay (0 for 3, 2 K)

at

RHP Kevin Correia (5-4, 3.97 ERA, 24 K)
Hitter to Fear: Max Scherzer (3 for 5, 1 2B, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: None.

Sunday, May 22 1:35p:
RHP Rick Porcello (3-2, 3.67 ERA, 27 K)
Hitter to Fear: Ronny Cedeno (2 for 4, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Andrew McCutchen (0 for 3)

at

LHP Paul Maholm (1-6, 3.67 ERA, 39 K)
Hitter to Fear: Jhonny Peralta (2 for 4, 2 2B)
Hitter to Fail: Austin Jackson (0 for 3)

Lineup Notes:
Jim Leyland said that Victor Martinez will start Friday and Sunday due to not being able to have a designated hitter while in Pittsburgh.

Analysis:
If you're a Tigers fan then you should know that the start of Interleague play means notching some wins for the team. Detroit is 134-113 in interleague play history and 63-27 since Jim Leyland took over as manager for the Tigers.

Brad Penny will kick the series off against Jeff Karstens on Friday night. Penny, who is 3-0 in his last 3 starts, is 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA against the Pirates. Detroit fans will remember Jeff Karstens from last season when the Tigers and Pirates faced off. Karstens pitched 7 innings and although ending up with the no-decision that day, he looked impressive only giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.

On your first glance at Saturday's match-up, you may notice that Max Scherzer is the hitter to fear against Pirates starter Kevin Correia. This is because Correia has only faced Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer out of everybody on the Tigers roster. It is good to note that Cabrera is 5 for 10 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs against him. Max Scherzer will get another chance to go 7-0 for the Tigers, the first Tigers pitcher since 1938 to do so. The stats are in his favor, Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in interleague starts last season.

In the finale, Porcello returns to the mound after having his last start skipped due to weather. In his last 3 starts, he is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Pirates counter with lefty Paul Maholm, who has been struggling as of late. In his last 3 starts, he is 0-2 with a 2.79 ERA. Unfortunately, the Pirates have been unable to get him the run support to give him a better record. Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta, Brennan Boesch, and Victor Martinez are all hitting above .500 against him.