DETROIT TIGERS (15-15) vs. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (18-15)
Game 1 – Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.21 ERA, 35 K) vs. Robbie Ray (2-2, 3.47 ERA, 49 K)
Tuesday, May 9 @ 9:40 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
A quick two-game set in Arizona begins with a pair of strikeout pitchers when Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray go at it. Verlander has been great his last two times out, going seven innings each start and allowing two earned runs over his last two games. Verlander needs to be more efficient, however. He has thrown 118 pitches in his last two starts, issuing six walks, including four in his last outing against Cleveland. After back-to-back devastating losses via the dreaded blown save, the Tigers need Verlander to carry the load in game one of this series. Side note, Verlander is 3-37 (.081) in his career, but did go 1-5 with a single last season at the plate.
That is a tall task to ask for as Robbie Ray toes the rubber for the Diamondbacks. Ray had his swing-and-miss pitch going against the Nationals, fanning 10 hitters in just six innings of work. While Ray’s numbers haven’t been eye-popping, thus far, due to the amount of walks he issues per game, he is 5th in the NL in strikeouts (49). Ray has not started against the Tigers in his career.
Game 2 – Matthew Boyd (2-2, 3.78 ERA, 23 K) vs. Zack Godley ( 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 6 K)
Wednesday, May 10 @ 9:40 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports Detroit | Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Matthew Boyd’s numbers haven’t been anything to write home about, but his ability to go into the 6th and 7th inning of games this year is more than the Tigers could have hoped for. Boyd has been stellar his last two starts, going seven-plus innings and giving the Tigers a chance to win each game. Boyd has never recorded an official at-bat at the plate, so keep an eye on that come Wednesday night. For reference, he did hit .264 with three home runs and
19 RBI during his freshman season at Oregon State in 2010.
Zack Godley went five innings and allowed two runs in a spot start against San Diego earlier this season. After a Shelby Miller injury, several Diamondbacks are vying for a spot in the rotation and this is Godley’s chance to show his stuff. He is 10-5 in his MLB career, but features a 5.26 ERA and has given up 45 walks and 18 home runs in 37 career appearances.
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PREDICTION
The last two games for the Tigers were absolute heart-breakers. For years, there has always been a stigma around the Tigers closer position that seems to haunt all of those who occupy it. K-Rod blew back-to-back 6-5 leads in the 9th and his time as the Tigers closer is all but finished, but that still leaves a question mark at the back end of close games for Detroit. If the Tigers are going to be successful moving forward, they have to figure out who they can trust to close out games. If it’s no one, then look for them to move to a closer by committee situation.
I think this series features a great pitching match-up to start and a good start from Verlander nets the Tigers a win and carries momentum into a win in game two as well. Every time it seems like the Tigers are going to hit a rough slide, they respond with a series win to keep their season afloat.
So far on the season, the Detroit Sports Nation Tigers team is 4-5 on our series predictions.
