Detroit is #4 team in runs per game during day games which has led to their 18-12 day record They are also among the leaders in OPS during day games while Arizona is towards the bottom with a .698 OPS during day games and they are 25th with a 4.57 ERA. Joe Saunders takes the ball and he's 2-4 with a 5.58 ERA during day games and he faces a tough task against the Tigers who are #6 in OPS vs. LHP with a .773 along witha .272 average. They are 42-18 in their last 60 games at home vs. a LH starter and 41-10 in their last 50 inter league home games. Arizona really struggles to score runs on the road and collectively they have seen Brad Penny 114 times and they have just a .603 OPS. While the Tigers have 95 AB vs. Saunders a .305 average and .837 OPS. Perhalta and Ordonez are 17-38 with 3HR both have well over 1.000 OPS's and .400 average. Miguel Cabrera also red hot vs. Saunders and lefties in general. Saunders usually keeps his team in the game, but his raw stats don't impress me his 5.08 XFIP is higher than his actual ERA and he averages 3.68 BB/9 and just 5.08 K/9 His last 4 starts vs. the Tigers dating back to 2009 resulted in just 18.2 IP and 16 ER that's an ERA over 8. Arizona just 11-23 in their last 34 Sunday games and 2-11 with Saunders on the mound on the road.
Love the Sox today with Miller making his second start. Pitt has struggled vs. lefties big time 26th in OPS with just a .653 and .234 average. Boston is #1 with a .812 OPS vs. RHP and they are even better during day games scoring 6.75 runs per game also #1 and .883 OPS also #1 for day games. Pit just 17th in OPS and scoring 4.11 runs per game during the day games. McDonald has been decent htis year, but he's got a 4.63 xFIP in his last 3 starts he has been awful, but lucky. He's allowed 33 base runners over 16 IP with 11 BB's 9 K's. Now he faces the hottest team which is 17-7 in day games. Pit at home this year has a .220 average and just 2.95 runs per 9 vs. LHP. Boston on the road .265 5.67 RUNS per 9 vs. RHP on the road. Mcdonald just getting 38% GB's could be in for a long day as Boston is 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a starter with a WHIP over 1.30, 64-20 IN THEIR LAST 84 inter league games vs. a RH starter. Pit just 17-36 in their last 53 IL vs. LH starters.
