Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 23, 2020 13:35:44 GMT -5
Houston Astros (16-25) @ Detroit Tigers (27-13)
HOU: Michael Mercado (2-1, 3.43)
DET: Carlos Martinez (2-1, 1.88)
The Detroit Tigers spent a half decade patiently building their talent base to create a roster that could make the postseason and remain competitive for a long time after. After finishing with a winning record last season, Detroit leads a cutthroat AL Central and looks poised to contend for a division title.
With ace Carlos Martinez on the mound, they'll look to take care of business against the Houston Astros and announce to the league their arrival.
Led by a mixture of young blue-chip talent, stop-gap veterans, and an arm that may go down as the best to ever pitch in the PBA, Detroit has produced the best offense and second best pitching this year. Jacob Pearson has refined his approach to enhance his exceptional skillset and has a very mature .281/.386./469 slash line. Amari Maggette continues to be a two-way force with 11 home runs to go along with strong defense. Brice Turang has overcome last year's sophomore slump to walk more times than he's struck out to post a .307 average and a .405 OBP. The trio has been a force at the top of the Tigers order all season long.
Detroit, however, is showing off a depth to their lineup that makes them very dangerous. No longer just a team with a few stars, they're getting complementary performances from Raj Anu, who looks like a version of Maggette as a two way star in a corner-outfield position, plus Matthew Annunziata, who has produced a .306 average and nine doubles as a solid weapon in the order. The biggest surprise has been free agent signing Anthony Rizzo. Thought to be on the downswing after a disappointing age-33 season in Houston where he hit .219 with his fewest home runs since 2017, Rizzo leads the AL in OPS.
With all that production, plus a team committed to patience and getting on base, Detroit leads the league in OPS despite just being seventh in home runs. The power hitters hit for power, everyone draws walks, and with few batters selling out for home runs, the team tends to run a healthy BABIP, third in the league so far.
If that's not enough for Houston to contend with, the Tigers will send Carlos Martinez to the mound. The two-time Cy Young winner who is a wizard at keeping the ball away from the barrel of a bat has made five starts this year and hasn't issued a home run yet. He has a 1.88 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. The WHIP would be the best of his career, and the ERA the best since his enchanted 1.27 performance back in 2018. He was given a five-year contract this offseason and has been worth it so far.
Houston will counter with young and talented Michael Mercado. The last time Mercado faced a team with Carlos Martinez, he no-hit them as Mercado's biggest achievement to date was a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox last July. Some core injuries have held Mercado back in the early going, but he's been good when on the mound with a 3.43 ERA and a 19-4 strikeout/walk mark. With a plus fastball and two solid breaking balls, he'll be a formidable challenge for Detroit's offense.
Houston's issue has been its offense. The unit is fourth in homers and last in everything else. Six regulars are hitting under .200, even though three of the six have at least eight long balls. It's a nightmare for them to face an arm like Martinez who walks few and gives up virtually no home runs. How they'll be able to string baserunners together will be a mystery, though if Mercado is on his game, a few solo homers may be enough. It's not a large margin of error, but when you have the power Houston has and a solid arm on the mound, it can be enough to win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Bill Koepsel, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo looks like he'll be out for a month. Who will take his place in left?
Your team is a prodigious power-hitting club, but Carlos Martinez doesn't allow many homers. Will you change your lineup for this game?
You have the best defensive team in the league in terms of Zone Rating. Are you frustrated the defense hasn't led to more wins?
For Taylor Bettencourt, you've patiently built this team into a contender after undergoing some long years in the wilderness. How do you feel about your early years in the league looking at this roster?
Matt Carpenter and Jurrickson Profar haven't played great this year. Are you willing to make moves to upgrade those spots, or will you remain patient and let them play out the year?
You signed Anthony Rizzo very late in the year. What was your process in bringing him aboard and did you expect this level of production from him?
TRIVIA: Which player had the best WHIP in a season in Tigers history?
HOU: Michael Mercado (2-1, 3.43)
DET: Carlos Martinez (2-1, 1.88)
The Detroit Tigers spent a half decade patiently building their talent base to create a roster that could make the postseason and remain competitive for a long time after. After finishing with a winning record last season, Detroit leads a cutthroat AL Central and looks poised to contend for a division title.
With ace Carlos Martinez on the mound, they'll look to take care of business against the Houston Astros and announce to the league their arrival.
Led by a mixture of young blue-chip talent, stop-gap veterans, and an arm that may go down as the best to ever pitch in the PBA, Detroit has produced the best offense and second best pitching this year. Jacob Pearson has refined his approach to enhance his exceptional skillset and has a very mature .281/.386./469 slash line. Amari Maggette continues to be a two-way force with 11 home runs to go along with strong defense. Brice Turang has overcome last year's sophomore slump to walk more times than he's struck out to post a .307 average and a .405 OBP. The trio has been a force at the top of the Tigers order all season long.
Detroit, however, is showing off a depth to their lineup that makes them very dangerous. No longer just a team with a few stars, they're getting complementary performances from Raj Anu, who looks like a version of Maggette as a two way star in a corner-outfield position, plus Matthew Annunziata, who has produced a .306 average and nine doubles as a solid weapon in the order. The biggest surprise has been free agent signing Anthony Rizzo. Thought to be on the downswing after a disappointing age-33 season in Houston where he hit .219 with his fewest home runs since 2017, Rizzo leads the AL in OPS.
With all that production, plus a team committed to patience and getting on base, Detroit leads the league in OPS despite just being seventh in home runs. The power hitters hit for power, everyone draws walks, and with few batters selling out for home runs, the team tends to run a healthy BABIP, third in the league so far.
If that's not enough for Houston to contend with, the Tigers will send Carlos Martinez to the mound. The two-time Cy Young winner who is a wizard at keeping the ball away from the barrel of a bat has made five starts this year and hasn't issued a home run yet. He has a 1.88 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. The WHIP would be the best of his career, and the ERA the best since his enchanted 1.27 performance back in 2018. He was given a five-year contract this offseason and has been worth it so far.
Houston will counter with young and talented Michael Mercado. The last time Mercado faced a team with Carlos Martinez, he no-hit them as Mercado's biggest achievement to date was a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox last July. Some core injuries have held Mercado back in the early going, but he's been good when on the mound with a 3.43 ERA and a 19-4 strikeout/walk mark. With a plus fastball and two solid breaking balls, he'll be a formidable challenge for Detroit's offense.
Houston's issue has been its offense. The unit is fourth in homers and last in everything else. Six regulars are hitting under .200, even though three of the six have at least eight long balls. It's a nightmare for them to face an arm like Martinez who walks few and gives up virtually no home runs. How they'll be able to string baserunners together will be a mystery, though if Mercado is on his game, a few solo homers may be enough. It's not a large margin of error, but when you have the power Houston has and a solid arm on the mound, it can be enough to win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Bill Koepsel, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo looks like he'll be out for a month. Who will take his place in left?
Your team is a prodigious power-hitting club, but Carlos Martinez doesn't allow many homers. Will you change your lineup for this game?
You have the best defensive team in the league in terms of Zone Rating. Are you frustrated the defense hasn't led to more wins?
For Taylor Bettencourt, you've patiently built this team into a contender after undergoing some long years in the wilderness. How do you feel about your early years in the league looking at this roster?
Matt Carpenter and Jurrickson Profar haven't played great this year. Are you willing to make moves to upgrade those spots, or will you remain patient and let them play out the year?
You signed Anthony Rizzo very late in the year. What was your process in bringing him aboard and did you expect this level of production from him?
TRIVIA: Which player had the best WHIP in a season in Tigers history?
