Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 10, 2021 23:28:30 GMT -5
Detroit Tigers (64-42) @ Chicago White Sox (51-54)
DET: Gregory Reinoso (5-4, 3.90)
CHW: Kenny Saenz (7-7, 6.39)
The 2025 Detroit Tigers lost Carlos Martinez early in the season. They lost Raj Anu to a shoulder injury for a month. Amari Maggette won’t come close to the 41 home runs he hit a season ago. Anthony Rizzo’s OPS is 150 points lower this year than in 2024. Star prospect Roderick Dalton hasn’t seen a single major league pitch.
They’re also the favorites to win the AL Central.
The Detroit Tigers will look to continue on their path to an AL Central title when they face the slumping Chicago White Sox for the Game of the Week.
Detroit will send Gregory Reinoso to the mound, coming off his highest strikeout game of the season, and the second-highest mark of his career. A 2022 match against Houston with 12 strikeouts was the only time in Reinoso’s career he punched out more than the 11 batters he fanned against Cleveland last week. The two-time All-Star has seen his ERA rise each season since his 2022 campaign where he finished third in Cy Young voting. However, his peripherals remain strong. His walk rate is the lowest of his career. His strikeout rate is the highest of his career. His home run mark is right in line with career norms. By many respects, he’s having the best year of his career.
Reinoso has succeeded this year by becoming the definition of a crafty lefty. His walk rate is 12th among AL pitchers with at least 75 innings under their belt. He’s also gotten great use out of his changeup and has been far more effective against right-handed hitters than left-handed ones.
It’s a strategy that will be tested by Chicago today. The White Sox still have the two best hitters in the AL, and both are left-handed. Andrew Benintendi is somehow having the best season of his sensational career. He’s on pace for 54 home runs, which would be the most of his career, and he’s only five doubles away from a 40th double, which would be a career high. His .336/.436/.712 Triple Slash would be a career high. The OPS would be the third highest mark in PBA history.
Rafael Devers, meanwhile, is having a huge season. He’s on pace for the highest OPS of his career. He’s hitting .309 and on pace for 60 home runs. That would be the third highest total in PBA history. Devers’ power and Benintendi’s all-around excellence have led to a minefield for opposing pitchers to face.
The problem is Chicago’s supporting cast is the weakest it’s been in years. Livan Soto has hit first or second all season yet has a .200/.265/.274. Brendan McKay is hitting .188 with only 10 home runs. Will Benson is hitting for power, but only has a .224 average. Despite the two best hitters in the league, Chicago is fifth in runs.
The pitching is worse. Kenny Saenz has a 6.39 ERA on the back of a 4.6 BB/9 and a .338 BABIP. He’s limited home runs, but can’t stop walking hitters, and keeps giving up hard-hit balls. In relief, closer Jimmie Sherfy and long man Pat French have been terrific, but nobody else has an ERA under 4.88. If Chicago can’t pitch, and if their supporting cast can’t step up, it doesn’t matter how good Devers and Benintendi are, the team won’t be able to beat Detroit.
Questions for the GMs:
For Taylor Bettencourt, you recently signed Eugenio Suarez and plugged him in at Third Base. What do you expect from him down the stretch?
Tony Watson is 40 years old, but continues to get results. Are you surprised with how good he’s been this year?
Do you feel Dan Vogelbach is good enough to be your number three hitter and have your team succeed in the playoffs?
For Steve Strzepek, Livan Soto has been awful all season. Why do you bat him second?
How do you feel Sharky Acevedo has been for you this year in his rookie year?
Pat French has been good in relief. Have you given any thought to putting him into the rotation?
TRIVIA: Gregory Reinoso has two seasons with 16 wins, most in Detroit history. Who is third with 15 wins?
DET: Gregory Reinoso (5-4, 3.90)
CHW: Kenny Saenz (7-7, 6.39)
The 2025 Detroit Tigers lost Carlos Martinez early in the season. They lost Raj Anu to a shoulder injury for a month. Amari Maggette won’t come close to the 41 home runs he hit a season ago. Anthony Rizzo’s OPS is 150 points lower this year than in 2024. Star prospect Roderick Dalton hasn’t seen a single major league pitch.
They’re also the favorites to win the AL Central.
The Detroit Tigers will look to continue on their path to an AL Central title when they face the slumping Chicago White Sox for the Game of the Week.
Detroit will send Gregory Reinoso to the mound, coming off his highest strikeout game of the season, and the second-highest mark of his career. A 2022 match against Houston with 12 strikeouts was the only time in Reinoso’s career he punched out more than the 11 batters he fanned against Cleveland last week. The two-time All-Star has seen his ERA rise each season since his 2022 campaign where he finished third in Cy Young voting. However, his peripherals remain strong. His walk rate is the lowest of his career. His strikeout rate is the highest of his career. His home run mark is right in line with career norms. By many respects, he’s having the best year of his career.
Reinoso has succeeded this year by becoming the definition of a crafty lefty. His walk rate is 12th among AL pitchers with at least 75 innings under their belt. He’s also gotten great use out of his changeup and has been far more effective against right-handed hitters than left-handed ones.
It’s a strategy that will be tested by Chicago today. The White Sox still have the two best hitters in the AL, and both are left-handed. Andrew Benintendi is somehow having the best season of his sensational career. He’s on pace for 54 home runs, which would be the most of his career, and he’s only five doubles away from a 40th double, which would be a career high. His .336/.436/.712 Triple Slash would be a career high. The OPS would be the third highest mark in PBA history.
Rafael Devers, meanwhile, is having a huge season. He’s on pace for the highest OPS of his career. He’s hitting .309 and on pace for 60 home runs. That would be the third highest total in PBA history. Devers’ power and Benintendi’s all-around excellence have led to a minefield for opposing pitchers to face.
The problem is Chicago’s supporting cast is the weakest it’s been in years. Livan Soto has hit first or second all season yet has a .200/.265/.274. Brendan McKay is hitting .188 with only 10 home runs. Will Benson is hitting for power, but only has a .224 average. Despite the two best hitters in the league, Chicago is fifth in runs.
The pitching is worse. Kenny Saenz has a 6.39 ERA on the back of a 4.6 BB/9 and a .338 BABIP. He’s limited home runs, but can’t stop walking hitters, and keeps giving up hard-hit balls. In relief, closer Jimmie Sherfy and long man Pat French have been terrific, but nobody else has an ERA under 4.88. If Chicago can’t pitch, and if their supporting cast can’t step up, it doesn’t matter how good Devers and Benintendi are, the team won’t be able to beat Detroit.
Questions for the GMs:
For Taylor Bettencourt, you recently signed Eugenio Suarez and plugged him in at Third Base. What do you expect from him down the stretch?
Tony Watson is 40 years old, but continues to get results. Are you surprised with how good he’s been this year?
Do you feel Dan Vogelbach is good enough to be your number three hitter and have your team succeed in the playoffs?
For Steve Strzepek, Livan Soto has been awful all season. Why do you bat him second?
How do you feel Sharky Acevedo has been for you this year in his rookie year?
Pat French has been good in relief. Have you given any thought to putting him into the rotation?
TRIVIA: Gregory Reinoso has two seasons with 16 wins, most in Detroit history. Who is third with 15 wins?
