AJ Burnett continues to get no respect and I don't blame the NY media, but he really has not been terrible. Burnett is due to have a dominant start and facing a team like the Twins who are 28th vs. RHP in terms of OPS are a good team to do that against. Not to mention that he is 6-0 vs. the Twins with the Yankees with a 2.20 ERA in 6 starts vs. the Twins. Yankees have dominated this team 61-19 in the last 80 meetings and I expect them to win here facing a lefty who they have dominated in Liriano. Yankees 22-5 in their last 27 vs. LH starters and 18-5 in Burnett's last 23 game #3 starts. Twins just 18-42 in their last 60 vs. AL east and 3-18 in their last 21 with Liriano vs. AL east. Liriano is actually 0-6 in 6 career starts giving up 38 hits 16 walks over 35 innings pitched good for a 1.54 WHIP which just won't get it done vs. a hot hitting Yankee team that is #1 in the league in OPS vs. LHP at .834. Yankees on the road this year .287 scoring 6.52 runs per 9 vs. LHP and have a 3.12 bullpen which gives them the advantage in that department too because the Twins have an ERA over 5 at home from their bullpen. Cano, Jeter, and Gardner are a combined 15-40 vs. Liriano so I'm confident as he has a 1.94 whip over his last 3 and a 3-4 record at home with a 5.83 ERA that the Yankees can get to him throughout this one.
Well the Tigers are 1-4 in their last 5 home vs. LH starters, but now they face Huff who combined 42 AB they have .381 average and a 1.092 OPS. They are ranked 6th in the league in OPS vs. LHP while the Indians are 17th vs. RHP. Huff's 2 starts at Detroit have resulted in 9 innings 12 hits and 4 walks for 6 ER. I think he gives up more here today vs. the Tigers who are 20-7 in their last 27 vs. the Indians. Indians are 17-38 in their last 55 as a dog and 3-13 in Huff's last 16 starts as he makes just his 4th start this season. Fister has been consistent and solid all year with an ERA around 3.5, but in his time with the Mariners he was just not getting victories. Now he faces the Indians who are hitting just .235 vs. RHP on the road in his second home start in Detroit. The first one he held a very good Rangers team to 2 ER over 7 innings. I sense he'll be dominant here today. Also note Huff in the past 3 years struggled on the road 6.59 ERA and 7.20 through 7 starts in August. I like the Tigers.
Dbacks try to avoid losing a 4th straight when they send Wade Miley to the mound for his MLB Debut. I'm confident for Miley what better team to go into a debut as a lefty against than the Braves? Braves are 29th with a .648 OPS vs. LHP. He had 9.28 K/BB ratio in AAA with a 3.64 ERA this year so he has the stuff to get a Braves line up out as his ERA should be lower with a very unlucky .327 BABIP this year. Beachy makes another start over his last 5 he has a 2.67 ERA and getting a lot of credit but a closer look he's faced some teams that are not good hitting RHP. Marlins two times ranked 20th vs. RHP in Ops, cUBS (14TH) Nationals (21st) and REds (16th) and now he faces the Dbacks who are ranked 10th. Dbacks are scoring 5.54 runs per 9 vs. RHP over their last 10 games and are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. RH starter. I expect Miley to be great in his debut and for the Dbacks to get back int he win column.
