I love the Tigers despite them losing game 1 today of the double header. It's rare that a team will lose two times in one day, but I look at more then just trends. The Tigers have actually hit James Shields relatively hard. Cabrera has a .429 average, Fielder .357, Martinez .321, Hunter .293, Jackson .350, Dirks .333 in a good amount of at bats as the entire team combined has 236 AB and a .838 OPS. Shields comes into this game game on 4 days rest for the 3rd start in a row which means he is making his 4th start in 16 days and he's averaging over 110 pitches in his previous 3. He has had a very easy schedule on the road this year especially when he's on 4 days rest. If you take out his road start against the Tigers he's faced an average 20th rank in OPS vs. RHP in his road starts on 4 days rest over 7 starts. I really expect him to struggle tonight against a Tigers team that is motivated after losing game 1.
The Royals on the other hand go up against Jose Alvarez who has three pitches fastball, slider, and changeup. The Royals are 33-69 in their last 102 road games vs. LH starter and they are also ranked 21st, 22nd, and 22nd against those three pitches. While the Tigers are 45-16 in their last 61 home games vs. RH starter. I don't often jump on a public team like the Tigers, but I will here.
***Correction from previous This is 3* play
The A's have really struggled of late, but now they get to what I consider to be a pitching advantage. First of all A.J. Griffin has struggled big time because of the HR because he's a fly ball pitcher. Pitching in Oakland helps as the A's play in the 26th ranked HR stadium for least amount of HR per game. Cleveland also has a .193 average and are scoring 3.52 runs per 9 vs RHP over their last 10.
Justin Masterson on the flip side makes the start and it's his 5th n a row on 4 days rest which is a lot to ask this late in the season. He's had control issues walking over 3 guys per 9 and I think that will only be more evident tonight against an Oakland team that just tries to get on base. Masterson in 4 career starts in Oakland has a 11.09 ERA and he's struggled against them at home too. He also has a 4.37 ERA on the road and a 4.30 at night. He's got a 5.19 ERA on the road when he's on just 4 days rest. The A's should win this one they have the advantage in the bullpen and are 55-23 in their last 78 vs. RH starter while Masterson is 5-16 in his last 21 as a road dog.
