Just one change in the Tigers' lineup today as they again are scheduled to meet Luke Hochevar and the Kansas City Royals. Tigers manager Jim Leyland decided to switch around his Nos. 8 and 9 batters.
Of course, the other big change for Detroit today is the starting pitcher: Right-hander Rick Porcello will get the nod, while left-hander Duane Below returns to the bullpen. It would have been nice to see what Below could do as a starter -- and you always like the "local boy done good" angle. You also like to see a team with a stronger bullpen, and putting Below back in it should help.
Republishing what I said yesterday:
Hochevar, as Rob noted earlier in his preview, may have an ERA of 4.98 for the season but has been pretty good outside of a seven-run first inning against the Indians on April 17. He's been quite tough on right-handers so far this year, as they are batting .143 against him with a paltry .404 OPS. Lefties have hit .308 with a .783 OPS against him. Hochevar allows a higher batting average and better on-base percentage to lefties in general, as his career splis and 2011 splits show.
Check out Baseball-Reference for more stats and info.
Tigers lineup
Austin Jackson, CF, RH
Brennan Boesch, RF, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, RH
Prince Fielder, 1B, LH
Andy Dirks, DH, LH
Alex Avila, C, LH
Jhonny Peralta, SS, RH
Ramon Santiago, 2B, S
Don Kelly, LF, L
Royals lineup
Jarrod Dyson, CF, LH
Alex Gordon, LF, LH
Billy Butler, DH, RH
Eric Hosmer, 1B, LH
Jeff Francoeur, RF, RH
Mike Moustakas, 3B, LH
Yuniesky Betancourt, 2B, RH
Humberto Quintero, C, RH
Alcides Escobar, SS, RH