Weekend Preview

Before this final homestand started, I thought it would be acceptable to see the Tigers take 4 out of 6 games before the All Star break.  Here we are four games into the thing and the Tigers have won three out of four.  Good start.  The final two games are very winable games.  Here’s how they break down.

SATURDAY: 7:05pm against Cleveland

The pitching matchup here is Armando Galarraga against Carl Pavano.  This is actually a rematch and I saw round one in person at Comerica Park.  Galarraga was just beginning to suck and Pavano was just coming into his own a bit.  However, Galarraga has been pretty good the past month and Pavano has not.

Since June 10th, batters are hitting .370 off of Pavano, a span that covers five starts.  His ERA is 7.33 and he has lost four of those starts.  The league is catching onto Pavano and it would be nice to see the Tigers pile on.  Even if Pavano is good, the Cleveland bullpen is so awful that the Tigers probably will have a shot even if Pavano is sharp.

Since May 28, Galarraga has rebounded with an ERA of 4.10.  Not too shabby for a 4th or 5th starter.  Over his his last two starts, Galarraga has thrown 13.1 innings and has an ERA of 1.35 and hitters are batting only .156 off of him.

SUNDAY: 1:05pm against Cleveland

This one looks like a slam dunk on paper.  Justin Verlander will start against Tomo Ohka of the Indians.  Ohka is the definition of a journeyman having appeared in the bigs with five different clubs.  He gives up a ton of home runs (7 in 28 innings this season) and strikes out next to no one.

He has an 8.49 ERA in 3 appearances against the Tigers in his career.  Current Tigers players have 87 career at-bats against Ohka and a .379 batting average to show for it.  I just don’t like the guy’s chances against the Tigers.

Justin Verlander will be making his final start before the All Star break and you have to think that he’ll be in the game for as long as possible.  He’ll have a few days off and considering he’s pitching on Sunday, he will probably be unavailable to pitch in the All Star Game on Tuesday.  Verlander has been great this season, but he’s looked a little vulnerable recently.