Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Posted on | August 14, 2006 | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox will welcome the Detroit Tigers to town tonight, as the two teams engage in a three game series. For the Tigers, they are hoping to expand their lead upon the defending World Series Champion Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, which is currently at 5.5 games, and also secure home field advantage with the best record in the American League. Meanwhile for the Red Sox, this series is a must win series if they wish to remain in playoff contention. True, they are only down one game in the AL East, behind the New York Yankees, but coming into a five game series with the Yankees, while they have several injuries, only further puts the emphasis on this series with the Tigers. The Yankees will be playing the Orioles, which the Red Sox have to figure will be a sweep, or at least two of three, meaning if the Red Sox were swept by the Tigers, they would be down a minimum of three games.
In game one, the lefty Nate Robertson will face off against Josh Beckett. Robertson is 10-8 on the year for the Tigers, with a 3.82 ERA, though he has lost his last two starts, and struggled in his start at Fenway Park earlier in the year. Beckett has been a solid #2 pitcher for the Red Sox, going 13-6, with a 4.92 ERA. Beckett will be looking to recover after an absolutely awful start against the Royals. In game two, Jeremy Bonderman (11-5, 3.76 ERA) and Curt Schilling (14-5, 3.89 ERA) will be the starting pitchers for their respective teams. The 23 year old Bonderman has been great this year, pitching well even in his losses, and really proving himself as a potential superstar pitcher in a few years. Schilling has been great this year, disproving the old theory of age worsening a pitcher. He was tossed around his last start against the Royals, giving up ten extra base hits and five runs in only seven and one third innings, but will rebound for this must win game. The finale will be pitched by Justin Verlander and David Wells. Verlander is 14-5 on the year, with a 2.95 ERA, and is another up and coming superstar with the Tigers. Wells is an aging veteran left hander with a 1-2 record, and a 6.23 ERA, and always has the potential to be lit up or pitch a gem.
Analysis: The pitching matchups in this series will be great for all three games, though the Tigers have the advantage, especially when you factor in the bullpens, and the Red Sox very shaky closer of Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox need the series more than the Tigers do, but neither team is going to lay down in this series. Look for the Tigers to win two of three in a series that may very well include three one run wins.
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