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Sanchez returns for Tigers Sunday at Red Sox
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 5/18/2014  at  3:53:00 AM
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DETROIT TIGERS (26-12)

at BOSTON RED SOX (20-22)

First pitch: Sunday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Boston -115, Detroit +105, Total: 8.5

Two of the top teams in the American League for years now, the Tigers and Red Sox, meet up Sunday night for the final game of their three-game weekend series. Detroit is going for the sweep after winning the first two games of the series, 1-0 and 6-1.

Detroit is once again leading the AL Central this season thanks to wins in 12 of its past 15 games coming into this series. The club swept the Orioles earlier this week, outscoring them 15-7 in the three games as their pitching allowed just one run in each of the first two contests and closer Joe Nathan went a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities. 1B Miguel Cabrera (.295 BA) and DH Victor Martinez (.336 BA) have been hot of late and combined to go 9-for-23 in the series with two home runs and 6 RBI. Boston continues to underachieve this season, and is coming off a series loss in Minnesota. The Red Sox nearly completed a comeback in the rubber match on Thursday, tying the game at 3-3 in the ninth inning, but could not finish the job as the Twins walked off with a 10th-inning victory. DH David Ortiz (.303 BA) had a huge series, going 8-for-14 with four homers and 6 RBI, and now has six of his 11 homers in the past 10 games. Coming off the DL and making his first start since April 26 for the Tigers will be RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-2, 3.13 ERA) and opposing him for the host Red Sox is 32-year-old RHP Jake Peavy (1-1, 3.94 ERA) who has not figured into the decision in six of his eight starts this season. There may not be too much of a home-field advantage in this game, as Detroit is a tremendous 11-4 on the road coming into this series, while Boston is just 10-11 at Fenway Park in 2014. This has been a nearly even matchup entering Friday with the Red Sox holding a slim 12-11 advantage since the start of 2012, while being much better at home (9-4). But the Tigers have been much better against right-handed starters this season (15-10, .600) than Boston has (10-16, .385).

Anibal Sanchez will make his first start since April 26 after being on the DL with a finger injury, and was solid this season before his injury. Sanchez has struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings and has not allowed a home run in 23 innings on the mound this year. He has given up far too many free passes though, walking 11 batters so far (4.3 BB/9), which is something he has not shown since 2009. He has never started against the Red Sox, but did face them once in relief way back in 2006, going 4.1 innings and allowing seven runs, which included three home runs. DH David Ortiz has owned Sanchez in three at-bats, getting a hit each time up with two homers and 4 RBI. OF Shane Victorino has had the most experience against the veteran, going 10-for-43 (.233) with a home run, 2 RBI, four walks and seven strikeouts. Coming into this series, the Tigers’ bullpen is 6-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while converting 12-of-16 save attempts. Joe Nathan (3.45 ERA, 10 saves) has finally given this team a reliable closer and he has gone 10-for-12 in save chances while being perfect in his past nine opportunities.

Jake Peavy has been putting together a solid year in his 13th big league season, but has been susceptible to a blowup every once in a while. He has twice already this year given up 9+ hits and 5+ runs while actually earning a no-decision each time. Besides that, he has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his eight starts while allowing one home run in each one of his outings. Control has been a big issue, as Peavy has walked 27 batters in just 48 innings so far (5.1 BB/9) which is much worse than his career average of 2.8 BB/9. Peavy has not had too much success against the Tigers in his 12 career starts, going 4-5 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, and has struck out 9.2 batters per nine innings. 1B Miguel Cabrera (13-for-45, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 14 K’s), OF Torii Hunter (7-for-16, 1 HR, 1 double, 1 triple, 7 RBI) and OF Austin Jackson (9-for-28, 1 HR, 2 triples, 3 RBI, 9 K’s) have all done very well against Peavy. Meanwhile, OF Rajai Davis (0-for-10, 2 K’s) and C Alex Avila (4-for-21, 1 HR, 5 K’s) have not done well in the matchup. Coming into this series, Boston’s bullpen is 6-7 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and is 11-for-14 (79%) in its save chances. Closer Koji Uehara (1.15 ERA, 9 saves) has already struck out 24 batters while walking just three in 15.2 frames, and is perfect in his save opportunities.


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