Series Preview: September 5-7 (Detroit)

by Ryan on Sep 5, 2011 7:19 AM EDT in Series Previews

Austin Jackson is hitting .289/.335/.464 in the second half (116 OPS+).

Date	Time	CLE Starter	DET Starter	Tickets
September 5	1:05 PM	Ubaldo Jiménez	Doug Fister	Tickets
September 6	7:05 PM	Fausto Carmona	Rick Porcello	Tickets
September 7	12:05 PM	Justin Masterson	Justin Verlander	Tickets

This is essentially a must-sweep series. This is the last time the Indians will get the Tigers at home, and the two teams won't play again until the last series of the season.

The Tigers come into this series hot, having swept the White Sox in convincing fashion, including a devastating 18-2 rout on Sunday. Their pitching has been hit-or-miss (aside from Verlander of course), but their offense has been clicking on all cylinders; they've scored at least 5 runs in eight of their 10 games. They came back to win from an 8-1 deficit on Saturday, and from a 4-1 deficit last Wednesday.

The pitching match ups are essentially the Tribe's top three against Detroit's top three. Justin Verlander has just about locked up the AL Cy Young, leading the league in just about every meaningful pitching category. The Tigers would love to finish off the Indians here, though, because Verlander has already thrown 223 innings with four weeks to go.

Who's Hot (Last 14 days)

Player	BA	OBP	SLG
Miguel Cabrera	.400	.471	.644
Ryan Raburn	.333	.407	.542
Austin Jackson	.358	.410	.679

Needless to say, the Indians will be pitching around Cabrera whenever practicable; he currently is second in AL Offensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement), behind Jose Bautista.

Compare and Contrast

Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Alex Avila, Austin Jackson, and Jhonny Peralta have all appeared in over 120 games for Detroit. Only Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera have appeared in 120 or more games for the Indians.

Position players currently on the Disabled List or Injured:

Cleveland	Detroit
Michael Brantley (60)	Jason Castro (60)
Shin-Soo Choo (15)
Travis Hafner (15)
Jack Hannahan (INJ)
Jason Kipnis (15)
Grady Sizemore (15)
Trevor Crowe (60)

Indians-tigers_medium

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Why is Trevor Crowe on that list?

by stuart dean on Sep 5, 2011 7:54 AM EDT reply actions

We really need good things to happen in this series

by APV on Sep 5, 2011 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Grady activated and leading off today

I like ex-Phillies prospects.

by Gradyforpresident on Sep 5, 2011 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

LEAD US TO THE PROMISED LAND

I like ex-Phillies prospects.

by Gradyforpresident on Sep 5, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Hope Duncan gets the start in left. Going to need as much offense as possible.

by Ryan on Sep 5, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s in the lineup.

by tabler84 on Sep 5, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m going to be seriously torqued off if there is a large contingent of Tiger fans making noise in our park today. And yet I fear it’s going to happen.

by tabler84 on Sep 5, 2011 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Go Grady, Go Ubaldo, Go Tribe! (By the way, I propose we walk Cabrera regardless)

by MTF on Sep 5, 2011 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

Walk Miggy?!?! Walk him?!? Throw at him with the first pitch. I’m still torqued (to borrow a phrase from Tabler) after Asdrubal getting that pitch behind him in that third game in Detroit!!! Let’s see the umps warn the benches in the first inning AFTER Cleveland sends the message at the very beginning. And if that chophead Leyland whines, throw at Miggy again!

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Sep 5, 2011 12:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions