Series Preview: Tigers at Indians

by MatthewLaFave on Aug 9, 2011 12:46 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers Analysis

Detroit Tigers (61-53) at Cleveland Indians (56-56)

Probable Pitchers:
Tuesday August 9, 7:05p:
RHP Doug Fister (4-12, 3.29, 89 K, 32 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Michael Brantley (3 for 8, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Carlos Santana (0 for 5, 1 K)

RHP Justin Masterson (9-7, 2.63, 121 K, 43 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Austin Jackson (5 for 12, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Alex Avila (0 for 8, 4 K)

Wednesday August 10, 7:05p:
RHP Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.49, 73 K, 30 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Carlos Santana (3 for 6, 2 HR, 2 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Michael Brantley (3 for 13)

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.64, 125 K, 54 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Miguel Cabrera (4 for 10, 2 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Ryan Raburn (0 for 1)

Thursday August 11, 7:05p:
RHP Justin Verlander (16-5, 2.30, 186 K, 38 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Michael Brantley (7 for 16, 1 3B, 4 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Asdrubal Cabrera (5 for 30, 11 K)

RHP Fausto Carmona (5-11, 5.19, 70 K, 40 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Victor Martinez (4 for 9, 3 2B)
Hitter to Fail: Wilson Betemit (1 for 10, 1 K)

What to Watch For:
1. Porcello still on fire - Tigers starter Rick Porcello didn't get the win in his last start against the Royals, but he hasn't lost a game since June 28th. He is 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA in his last 3 starts. Even more impressive, he is career 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA against the Cleveland Indians.

2. Valverde goes for Tigers history - Tigers closer Jose Valverde has converted 32 saves for the Tigers this season. With his next save opportunity, he could pass Willie Hernandez for most consecutive saves in Tigers history.

On Deck:
Tigers travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles on Friday for a 3-game series.

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Comments

Let's steal this one tonight and sweep these bastards!

Found this stat interesting: Masterson throws the fastball 82% of the time, the highest of any starter in the league.

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Aug 9, 2011 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

Having a sweep here would be awesome

Really put some space between us and them

"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."
-Jacques Plante

by DetroitSports on Aug 9, 2011 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

I think all of us BYB'ers agree on this;

A freaking sweep would be awesome.

God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.

by Siggzilla on Aug 9, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

And in my pessimistic mind...

“Avoid the sweep and we’ll be fine.”

by rcpratt on Aug 9, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Verly, mister fister, and Kid Rick

say “no prob!”

God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.

by Siggzilla on Aug 9, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Fister might get flashbacks to his Seattle days tonight

Masterson has been pretty good against us this year. He’s only 1-1, but the loss was the game that JV took a no-no into the 8th before Orlando Cabrera got a hit.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Aug 9, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Masterson is tough

2.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Allowed 2 runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts (gave up 4 to the O’s somehow)
Gives up about one homer per month. Has gone six innings or more in his last 8 starts.
They got him when they traded Victor. He’s the real deal. The rest of their rotation- not so much.

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

by Tigerdog1 on Aug 9, 2011 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Ubaldo Jimenez is definitely the real deal

The question is whether he has adjusted to the AL yet.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Aug 9, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, him too

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

by Tigerdog1 on Aug 9, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you really think that's true in today's game?

I think at one time, before interleague play and umpires working both leagues, it might have been an issue, but in 2011, I really believe that there is virtually no difference for a pitcher, outside of facing 9 batters in a lineup as opposed to essentially 8.

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Aug 9, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think there's a difference

but not as much as there was.
AL ERA is 3.94 this year
NL ERA is 3.86 this year
AL ERA was 4.14 in 2010
NL ERA was 4.02 in 2010

That’s the sum total with the DH, different parks, different hitters, management styles, etc
The Average DH is hitting .260 .337 .414 .751- not great.
I think Ubaldo will do well in the AL.

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

by Tigerdog1 on Aug 9, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not so much an AL > NL argument

But rather that the two leagues are different styles of play. He also needs to get used to being in a different clubhouse and a different city. It’s a transition that any player would need to go through.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Aug 9, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think for a pitcher

the differences in strike zones and situational hitting would have to be the only real adjustment, short of course, thhe clubhouse and city thing.

God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.

by Siggzilla on Aug 9, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

huge series boyssss

lets do this

No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Aug 9, 2011 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

weathers not lookin too great tonight in cleveland

No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Aug 9, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

Biggest game in the history of baseball

They’ll get it in.

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Aug 9, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

haha

exaggerate much?

but yeah, i think we’ll play too

No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club

by tigers22 on Aug 9, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Lineup

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, LF
3. Andy Dirks, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Carlos Guillen, 2B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Don Kelly, 3B

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Aug 9, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions