Thursday, April 4, 2013

Game 3 Preview: Minnesota

Detroit Tigers (1-1) at Minnesota Twins (1-1)

Time: 1:10 PM EST at Target Field (Fox Sports Detroit, Tigers Radio)

Pitching Matchup: Rick Porcello (10-12, 4.59 ERA in 2012)
                                        vs.
                                  Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 2.29 ERA in 2012)

     Mike Pelfrey will be on the bump for the Twins as the series concludes with a matinee rubber match tomorrow.  He came to Minnesota this off-season from the New York Mets, and like yesterday's starter, Kevin Correia, he has spent his whole career to date in the National League.
   
     Pelfrey spent most of 2012 on the shelf with from a season ending elbow injury early in 2012. It is hard to know what his arm has recovered too, but based off his spring he should feature a sinker in the low 90s accompanied by a splitter, slider and changeup combination. He had a banner year with the Mets in 2010 winning 15 games and an ERA in the 3.40 range.  Since then, however, he hasn't been terribly dominant so a jump to the varsity circuit (American League) could be rough for him.  That said, the first two starters the Twins have rolled out from the National League has stymied the Tiger offense.

     Tigers fans are looking for a new Porcello tomorrow. Porcello had a fantastic spring in which he walked nobody in 24 major league innings. He also has scrapped his slider for a curveball and has the fastball popping in the mid 90s with the sinker working at only a couple ticks below that.  Tigers camp officials believe that he has turned a corner this off-season and decided to keep him as the 5th man in the rotation. It's time, this season, for Porcello to reward their faith in him and prove them right. I also would like to have my earlier post on this blog be proven correct by Porcello as well.  A great first start today would do that and secure the Tigers a road series win.  After giving away today, and Sanchez only lasting five innings, it would be helpful if Porcello could work into the 7th and save the bullpen a little bit before going home to face the Yankees in the home opening series.

Outlook:

      I look for the Tigers offense to come up with a little more intensity this afternoon and put a few runs on the board. The Tigers closer by committee let them down yesterday and would very much appreciate an easy day tomorrow. The Tigers shouldn't lose a series this series to the Twins, especially after the way they gave away game two. I look for the Tigers to win the rubber game in this series and return home to a raucous opening day crowd to take on the Yankees.

     I'll take Rick Porcello as my player of the game as he goes 7 strong innings and takes a load off the bullpen. The offense hopefully wakes up a little bit and starts having quality at bats. The shadows also will be a non-factor for most, if not the whole game. The first two games the hitters have dealt with nasty shadows between the pitcher's mound and home plate. Look for a little better contact from both sides today as the shadows are a non-factor.

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