September 1st 07:10 MLB Detroit Boston Overseas Baseball Analysis Sports Analysis
-
Editing and deleting posts requires login
The Detroit Tigers, suffering from bullpen struggles leading to consecutive losses, will have Tarik Skubal (15 wins, 4 losses, 2.58 ERA) on the mound as he seeks his 16th win of the season. Skubal secured a victory on the 25th with a performance of 5 innings and 3 earned runs during an away game against the White Sox. The early offensive burst from his team allowed him to pitch with a bit less tension. He is particularly strong in night games at home, so the chances for a rebound are quite high. The Tigers' lineup, which managed to score 5 points including a 3-run homer from Kerry Carpenter after struggling against Hauk's pitching the previous day, showed a revival of their characteristic late-game strength. The key issue, however, seems to be their performance against starting pitchers. The bullpen, which had been holding on until the tiebreak, has consistently faced difficulties at this point in games.
Having subdued the opposing team with their batting strength, the Boston Red Sox will have Nick Pivetta (5 wins, 9 losses, 4.61 ERA) aiming for his 6th win of the season. Pivetta struggled in his most recent outing on the 21st against the Houston Astros, allowing 5 earned runs over 5 innings, and has been inconsistent since August began. Given his recent form, expectations for Pivetta on the road may not be very high. The Red Sox lineup scored 7 runs, including 3 home runs, by attacking Mize and Miller the previous day, demonstrating their strength against fastball-throwing right-handers. However, the bullpen's performance, allowing 5 earned runs over 4 innings, was disappointing, highlighted by a blown save from closer Kenley Jansen.
The Boston lineup tends to be quite selective in their matchups. While they are strong against right-handers, they struggle significantly against left-handed pitchers, making it challenging to attack Skubal. The crucial factor here will be whether the Detroit lineup can get going, as Pivetta's pitching style is notably different from Hauk's, and historically, the Tigers' batters tend to perform well when Skubal is on the mound. With their starting pitching advantage, the Detroit Tigers are closer to victory.
Predicted score: 6-3 in favor of Detroit.
Handicap: Detroit wins.
Over/Under: Over.