Bucs @ Tigers | Series Thread | 5/18-5/20

[evolver115]

v

For all the offseason hype they received after adding one of the game's premier power hitters to a team that was already one of baseball's best, the Detroit Tigers enter interleague play with the same record as the Pittsburgh Pirates.

They didn't fare well against the NL last season with one exception -- Justin Verlander, who looks to continue his interleague dominance Friday night when the Pirates visit Comerica Park for the first of three.

Many were ready to hand the AL Central to the Tigers (18-20) after they signed Prince Fielder, and considering they won the division by 15 games last year with a similar roster, those predictions seemed appropriate.

Instead, Detroit finds itself four games back of first-place Cleveland -- though that's not an unfamiliar spot. The Tigers trailed the Indians by five on May 20, 2011, the day they began interleague play against Pittsburgh (18-20).

No one seemed too eager to look at the bright side after suffering a two-game sweep to the MLB-worst Twins with Thursday's 4-3 defeat, though.

"The only thing that has been consistent for this team is the inconsistency, and that's mind-boggling to me," manager Jim Leyland said. "We just aren't putting together the combinations that we need to win."

Leyland stopped short of using one popular word to describe his club, which hasn't won back-to-back games since April 15-18.

"I don't think the team's disappointing," he told the Tigers' official website. "I think the performance, all of us, everybody, has been disappointing right now. But I love the team. I think it's a good team. I think it's going to come out. "

It usually does when Verlander (4-1, 2.47 ERA) takes the hill, particularly in interleague play. Verlander is 15-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 20 starts versus the NL, going 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA in four outings last year.

Detroit went 4-11 in interleague last season when giving the ball to anyone other than Verlander, including two losses in Pittsburgh.

The reigning AL MVP won his fourth straight decision Sunday in Oakland, limiting the A's to a solo homer and one other hit over seven innings of a 3-1 victory. He did discover a tiny blister on his right thumb, but didn't seem too concerned.

"I wouldn't say it's been bothering me, I've just been cognizant of it," Verlander said. "... I've been able to deal with it fine. I'm not worried about it going forward."

There hasn't been much that's been able to slow him down as he seeks a 51st consecutive start of at least six innings. Only Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton and Catfish Hunter have gone 50, with Carlton's 69 from 1979-82 the last streak longer than Verlander's.

Verlander went seven innings in his only career start versus Pittsburgh, a 6-2 home win June 11, 2010.

That Pirates team finished averaged an NL-low 3.62 runs, and this one is averaging a major league-worst 2.92. But Pittsburgh had a solid night at the plate Thursday in Washington, getting two homers from Andrew McCutchen and recording double-digit hits for the first time in 13 games in a 5-3 win.

"He's one of those special players that can do everything," Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "He's fun to watch."

McCutchen is certainly doing all he can to keep the Pirates' offense afloat. The center fielder is hitting .486 with five homers and a 1.479 OPS over his last 10 games, and he has a .500 on-base percentage in nine games versus Detroit.

Charlie Morton (2-3, 4.05) will oppose Verlander hoping to solve his road woes. He's 1-4 with a 6.55 ERA in his last seven starts away from PNC Park, where he held Houston to one earned run over six innings Saturday in a 5-2 victory.

The right-hander may not have to worry about facing the Tigers' leadoff hitter in his first look at them. Austin Jackson missed Thursday's loss with an abdominal strain and is day to day.

Closer Jose Valverde (back strain) may also be unavailable.

 

[evolver115]

Thank you Josh Harrison :pray2:

 

[WVUinVegas]

Of qualified batters in all of MLB, Clint Barmes is #176 out of 177 in OPS (Brent Morel). What a bum.

Fun fact: Albert Pujols is #165

 

[evolver115]

Nice to see them rebound after the one-hitter. Don't want that memory to linger.

 

[steelparrot]

Nice win today, a winning/losing road trip on the line tomorrow.


Laying around .500 with more people playing under their abilities than over.

 

[thecrow124]

Kevin correia pitching today, i am not sure why he continues to start over Brad Lincoln, but IMO he should not be.

 

[stillmatic32]

Yeah, the Correia demise appears to have started earlier this season. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

On Lincoln, can he possibly be as good as he has looked so far this season. He has been very, very impressive. He HAS to go in the rotation if Correia gets rocked again.

 

[Darkstone42]

I agree, Lincoln has looked too good to not be in the rotation over Correia.

 

[thecrow124]

This one i would have to say is on Hurdle. Why would he send Correia back out in the 7th? Has he not watched him pitch over the last 2 years? Heck even i knew he was on borrowed time. When you play a team with an offense like Detroit has, you play to your strengths, and Kevin Correia is not one of our strengths, our bullpen on the other hand is.

 

[sychmd]

correia seems to be great the first time through the order and after that is ERA about 27 it seems like. pitch count doesnt seem to matter, it is the amount of time they see him.
looking at it from a pitcher standpoint, he doesnt seem to have a strategy other than throw a lot of high strikes. he does a decent job of pounding the zone, but catches a lot of the plate most of the time.

 

[stillmatic32]

Pedro is brutal on the eyes again.

 

[sychmd]

mcclouth is so done.
i can see why atlanta got rid of him.
lincoln needs to replace correia in the rotation.
correia goes to 1-4 innings of relief although with our rotation, we rarely need a long reliever.