Game 82 Preview

Date: July 7, 2009

Time: 7:05pm

Teams: Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers

Park: Comerica Park

Weather: 77 and mostly sunny

Starting Pitchers: Gil Meche (4-8, 4.20)  Armando Galarraga (5-7, 5.34)

Records: Kansas City (35-46)  Detroit (44-37)

Last 10 Games: Kansas City (4-6)  Detroit 4-6)

My Two Cents

The Tigers will look to start the second half of the season with a series win against the Royals.  The Royals have cooled off since their hot start and it would be nice to see the Tigers take advantage against a weaker opponent. 

Armando Galarraga has won his last two starts, his first wins since the month of April.  In those two starts, against the Cubs and Athletics, he’s thrown 12.1 innings and posted an ERA of 3.65.  However, in those 12 innings of work, he has also allowed seven walks, which is a way too many with which to be messing around. 

He beat Kansas City back in April and is 2-0 with an ERA under 2.00 in three career starts against KC. 

Gil Meche will start on the mound for the Royals.  Meche was hit around and took a loss against the Tigers back in May and he’s really struggled over his last three starts.  In those three starts, Meche is 0-3 with an ERA of 9.42.  Of course, all of that was preceded by a complete game shutout, so who knows what to expect. 

Marcus Thames is 0-7 against Meche, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he got the night off.