Big Series For Tigers-White Sox In Chicago

Tonight is the start of a 4 game series in Chicago with the White Sox leading the Tigers by two games.  Last time these two teams met was from August 31 to September 2nd at Comerica Park where the Tigers, who have dominated the Sox in 2012 swept them, but this series is in Chicago with the stakes high, so anything could happen at this point
WHITE SOX: The Sox have a good line-up, but their task is to be able to hit the Tigers studs, the Tigers are sending Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Justin Verlander to the mound in this series and the White Sox have to defend their home turf and score runs against these guys or they will be in for a long series again versus a Detroit team.
TIGERS: The Tigers just need to play the Sox the way they have all year, and like last time they played them, shut down the Sox middle of the order, it will all follow from there.  I think their hitting will get better at the Cell during the series and I believe in this team.  I have watched them all year and they can beat the White Sox out for the division, and as a fan of the Tigers they can beat these guys with their offense.
PITCHING:
MONDAY: Rick Porcello vs Jose Quintana-  Aside from his last start Porcello has done well lately and his ground ball pitching in the sox ballpark is huge for the Tigers tonight, I expect him to shut this offense down and set the tone for the series.  Quintana is good, but the Tigers can certainly hit him well and make him leave the game early.  LINE PROJECTION: Porcello- 7.1 IP 1 ER 5  2 BB 7 K  Quintana 5 IP 5 ER 7 H 3 BB 5 K
TUESDAY: Doug Fister vs Jake Peavy- I expect Fister to fully return to his second half greatness for this start and hold the White Sox to barely any offense.  HE could be dominant in this start too, he just needs to keep going strong even if he hits a bump at one point.  Peavy has faced the Tigers a lot in 2012, and they are starting to figure him out very well, so it may not be his best start of the year.  LINE PROJECTION Fister: 7 IP 2 ER 5 H 1 BB 8 K  Peavy: 5.2 IP 4 ER 7 H 2 BB 6 K
WEDNESDAY: Max Scherzer vs Francisco Liriano- Scherzer has been a force in the last month and he tamed the White Sox last start, I expect something similar.  On the note of Liriano, I think he was a bad pick-up for the SOx and the Tigers hit him well, so we will see.  LINE PROJECTION: Scherzer: 7 IP 1 ER 6 H 2 BB 12 K  Liriano 6 IP 4 ER 6 H 3 BB 2 K
THURSDAY: Justin Verlander vs Chris Sale- The Sunday Night Baseball match-up where Verlander outpitched Sale has a sequel and I don’t expect it to be any different, a pitcher’s duel where Verlander dominates and doesn’t give up much and Sale does great but the Tigers could use some power and rallies and clutch hitting to beat him again  LINE PROJECTIONS Verlander: 9 IP 1 ER 4 H 0 BB 9 K  Sale 7 IP 3 ER 6 H 2 BB 8 K

KEYS:
Tigers: They should win Monday and just keep hitting, a sweep may seem far-fetched but I think it’s actually a possibility and guys like Garcia, Cabrera and Fielder along witht he whole offense should come alive
White Sox: They have to hold the Tigers and score runs to win games in the series

PREDICTIONS
Monday: Tigers 7  White Sox 2
Tuesday: Tigers 6 White Sox 7
Wednesday: Tigers 7 White Sox 1
Thursday; Tigers 4 White Sox 1

Tigers Biggest Series of 2012 Starts Tonight

It may not be the biggest by the end of the year but a sweep is just what the Tigers need to climb atop the division and stay there, and let’s not forget right now is the time most Tigers play at their absolute best.
THE YOUNG GUN: Sure, Nick Castellanos is the Tigers top prospect but Avisail Garcia has slowly climbed up the system and flashed his tools and in the past few years he has turned those into results.  He deserves the call and could be the Tigers weapon to success f they make the postseason.  First he needs to help this series, and he can.  Some compare him to former Tiger Magglio Ordonez and if one thing is for sure he can get a clutch hit like him, so don;t be surprised if he gets a huge hit and some attention while making his MLB debut tomorrow.  No he started the year repeating HIgh A ball, not because he was bad but the fact he was young, and he tore it up, so the argument that he can’t help Detroit is a bad one.
THE OFFENSE: The Tigers need to stop the White SOx 2-5 and they can beat them.  The other parts of the order need be pitched well but the 2-5 holes are the Sox best hitters and if the Tigers stop Youkilis, Dunn, Konerko and Rios they can win the series and possibly more.  It also helps that the Tigers three best pitchers are pitching, so the chances of shutting down those hitter goes up.  So get these guys, don’t walk guys, and get the hitter in the bottom of the order out.
PITCHING
Friday: Jake Peavy vs Doug Fister- Fister has been awesome since All-Star Break besides one bad start and Peavy shuts down the Tigers since he was traded to Chicago.  This is Chicago’s best chance to win.  This should be a pitcher’s match-up.  I thinK Fister should rebound and I predict him as the Tigers Player of The Game.  Both of these teams will need to get hits.  I think the Tigers will need to bring out their power tonight too  LINE PREDICTIONS: Peavy 7 IP 3 ER 6 H 1 BB 8 K  Fister 7 IP 2 ER 7 H 2 BB 8 K
Saturday: Francisco Liriano vs Max Scherzer- Scherzer will surpass the 200 K mark during this game and he should hold down the White Sox well as he has started a mini hot streak, he just needs to avoid walks and be the power pitcher he is.  I like Scherzer and the big things expected of him should come out now.  Liriano could get bombed by this offense, but he could also do a decent job, the Tigers offense needs to show up and make a statement during this game.  PREDICTED LINES  Liriano 6 IP 5 ER 7 H 3 BB 5 K  Scherzer 6.2 IP 2 ER 7 H 2 BB 10 K
Sunday: CHris Sale vs Justin Verlander- Verlander needs to bounce back after a bad start and he will because he is an ace.  His W-L record is not what he has been this season and he can shutdown any offense, and I expect him to have another special game against CHicago.  Sale is impressive and I like his stuff and how he pitches altogether but the Tigers just need to get a few hits and runs off of Sale and they can win.  PREDICTED LINES Sale 7.1 IP 3 ER 7 H 1 BB 7 K  Verlander 9 IP 0 ER 4 H 0 BB 11 K

Game Predictions:
Friday: White Sox 5  Tigers 6
Saturday: White Sox 3 Tigers 9
Sunday: White Sox 0 Tigers 4

The White Sox struggle in Detroit and the Tigers play well at home and the Detroit Tigers hitting can come alive this series.

NOTE: The Tigers have had some disappointing seasons from guys like Boesch and Avila this year but they can get through it.  Avila still gets on and Boesch can still hit a bomb and they can both get better in September, but the big thing is guys like Max Scherzer and Austin Jackson are doing better than 2011 so the Tigers can do fine and make a run in September, maybe even one like 2011.

Series Preview: Indians at Tigers

PREDICTION:
Friday: Indians 2 Tigers 7
Saturday: Indians 5 Tigers 8
Sunday: Indians 5 Tigers 4
PROBABLES
FRIDAY: Scherzer vs Tomlin: Scherzer should have a good start and may start a turn around for the Tigers right here.  He has to be good for the Tigers to go deep in the postseason and he should show up for most of his big starts.  Tomlin is easier to hit and completely done with his first half success, he could do okay but the Tigers should score.
SATURDAY: Doug Fister vs David Huff: Both could do good but I think this could be a higher scoring game.  Fister should start to settle down a bit but the Indians could get a piece of him but it should be a decent start and Huff should also do decent and fool some hitters but not others.
SUNDAY: Rick Porcello vs Ubaldo Jimenez- Jimenez got the Tigers last time and could start pitching like an ace but the Tigers offense should get something off of him.  Porcello is a toss-up but if he does good it might still be a little messy, so decent start at best ahead for him while Ubaldo may dominate.
ANALYSIS: I think the Tigers offense and bullpen will be at their best and Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez could seriously add to their totals.  With Choo back the Indians offense could do good but their pitching is hittable and the Tigers are better and should show it most of the series.
KEYS: The Tigers need to take advantage of every opportunity and their starters need a lower their ERA.  For the Indians, Choo has to show up and they can’t play bad at all in any game.
IMPACT: The Tigers are better and if the sweep they may only have to worry about the White Sox but the Indians shouldn’t be counted out even though they aren’t quite as good as the Tigers they are a good team.  The Tigers need to take two out of three or else they could find a little trouble too.

Who Should Win The Series

You should win each series happening Monday through Thursday
TIGERS VS MARINERS- TIGERS, it’s an easy sweep if they can hit every game
WHITE SOX VS RAYS- RAYS, they are heating up and the White Sox will be mediocre for now
ATHLETICS VS RED SOX- ATHLETICS, their pitching should carry them over the struggling Red Sox and win two
DIAMONDBACKS VS REDS- REDS, should get back on track
GIANTS VS ROCKIES- GIANTS, it will prove who’s best in the West for now and the Giants still are
NATIONALS VS CARDINALS- NATIONALS, I just like their team fir this week but the Cards will get at least a game with their line-up
BRAVES VS DODGERS- BRAVES, I know it’s a four gamer but this si where the Braves will start to catch fire
ROYALS VS INDIANS-INDIANS, they are slightly hotter right now and should squeeze it out
PADRES VS CUBS- CUBS, No Latos and the Pads are skidding a bit, plus the Cubs have a good shot in these games
PIRATES VS MARLINS- The pitching goes to Florida by a mile and so does this series
YANKEES VS BLUE JAYS- BLUE JAYS, I like the Jays in these games and watch Drabek prove himself
RANGERS VS ANGELS- RANGERS, both teams will win but the better team should get the edge
BREWERS VS PHILLIES- BREWERS, they can almost match this team and I like them better in these games
TWINS VS ORIOLES- ORIOLES, their young pitching and the Twins struggles win them this series

Tigers vs Royals Sereis Recap

ROYALS: I know they are a better team this year but right now they are on a hot streak and they should ride it for the next few series but they could come back down to earth at any time.  Their offense looks like it can be tamed at times but can also mash.  I can tell that they are heading in the right direction and they can win games now.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they won 75 games this season.  Hochaver isn’t that good and Chen will be spotty and Davies won’t ever be good, so they need to work on a few things.
TIGERS: They will snap out of it but with the Rangers coming it will be harder.  I see the Tigers getting back to winning soon though.  They can hit but they need the starters to get a lot better and do it quick.  Porcello needs to do better, not be an all-star but do better and he can do it.  Their bullpen also needs to do better but I think it will pretty quickly.  They will win they just need to play better which they will do within they next week or so.  Scherzer and Coke look like they need two or three more starts and then they will start doing really good.  Austin Jackson may just need this month to get warmed up and he will get better soon.  I like the whole line-up and bench and I think the Tigers will be contending for the top of this division real soon.

Tigers Game Analysis from the Orioles Series

• Justin Verlander should finally have a great or decent April
• Alex Avila will have some very good series this year and will improve from last season but won’t keep at this pace all season
• Derrek Lee will have somewhat of a bounce back season
• Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will be great back-to-back all season long, especially in this clutch
• The Orioles are defiantly better but defiantly have flaws
• Austin Jackson is going to be the best center fielder in the AL on defense and he will even hit better this season
• Brad Penny looks like he will do just fine
• The Tigers can beat teams that are on a winning streak
• The Tigers are better than their record
• The Orioles can beat good teams
• Both teams will be pretty good at comebacks
• Mark Reynolds strikeout problem won’t get too much better
• The Tigers bullpen needs a little time but they are pretty good
• Both teams are better than they were last season

Tigers series

Here’s whether or not the Tigers played a good or bad series…
TEAM   SERIES WAS   RATING (1-10)
Jays             Bad                     3.9
Rangers     Good                  9.9
White Sox Good                  5.2
Mariners   Good                  8.2
Angels         Bad                    4.7
Royals        Good                  7.2
Yankees      Bad                    4.8 
White Sox   Bad                    1.5
Indians       Good                  9.8
Twins            Bad                    2.1
Athletics     Good                 10.0