As has bee the case all season, the bullpen had as much or more to do with their comeback as the bats. The usually reliable Max Scherzer could not make it through the fourth inning allowing 6 runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. The bullpen bailed him out though as Brad Thomas, Phil Coke and Jose Valverde combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings. They struck out five and allowed just four baserunners and gave the offense a chance to get back into the game.
The Table below compares the performance of the Tigers starters and relievers so far this year. Their starters rank last in the American League with a 5.54 ERA in 127 innings. The relievers, on the other hand, have a league leading 2.31 ERA in a league high 78 innings. So, the pen has been worked hard and has responded superbly.
If we look at the peripherals, we can see that starters have allowed significantly more hits per nine innings (9.9 versus 7.4) and home runs per nine innings (1.0 versus 0.5) than the relievers. The starters also have a much lower ground ball rate (42.4% versus 50.2%). All of that explains the difference in ERAs.
There are some indicators that the gap will soon close. The starters have a better walk rate per nine innings than the relievers (3.1 versus 4.5). The .335 batting average on balls in play for the starters compared to .270 for the relievers suggests that the the bullpen may have received more luck and defensive support. The starters should get better in the future and the bullpen may regress a bit. Up to this point, though, the starters have been bad and the relievers have saved the Tigers.
Table: Tigers Starters Versus Relievers
As a huge Tigers fan living in Chicago, I was pumped to see the game was televised on ESPN. Then I nearly wanted to vomit after they went down 6-1. Huge win against the current division leader.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm happy with the win, I do think something needs to be said about the poor call on the Damon fly ball that Span "dropped." On replay, it looks like Span dropped it during the transfer. So, instead of two outs, runner on first, it was two RISP with one out. That appeared to be the turning point of the game, as the Tigs plopped on 6 runs.
We need to win tonight. You are certainly right, the starters need to get their stuff together.
That was definitely a big play and a bad call. I'll just consider it pay back for all the bad things that have happened to the Tigers in Minnesota over the years!
ReplyDeleteToday's game is an afternoon game. I think the Tigers will need to do some hitting with Willis on the mound.
Lee
I would like to see JV step up and become the stopper like they are paying him to be. 5+ innings per start, no matter how many pitches that is, is not worth all that money. The BP cannot keep it up at this rate...
ReplyDeleteRe: afternoon game
ReplyDeleteTigers on Gamecast at work makes my afternoon go by so much better ...
Not to mention the Tigers are currently up 2-0 in Bottom 7. Nice to see Dontrelle's line: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K.
Now let's just hold on to it ...
I'm checking gamecast periodically too. Great game for Willis. The best part was that he only walked two batters in six innings. I was worried about him against the Twins. Just based on the numbers, this was his most positive performance of the year so far.
ReplyDelete