Sudden Struggles
The Detroit Tigers are hoping they got their worst baseball out of the way in the season’s first two weeks. If their pitching doesn’t improve, the Cleveland Indians’ struggles may just be beginning.
The suddenly resurgent Tigers will look for their fourth straight win on Thursday in Cleveland, where the Indians will look to Fausto Carmona to help them avoid a fourth consecutive loss.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Cleveland -124 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 85% of bets for this game have been placed on Cleveland -124 (View MLB Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
Cleveland (5-10) split its first eight games of the season, but has dropped six of seven since, and its pitching has been the primary culprit. The Indians had the third-best ERA in the American League last season – when they came within one win of the World Series – but they have the league’s second-worst 15 games into 2008.
That ERA went up more than a half-run when Detroit (5-10) came to town on Wednesday. Reigning AL Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia was roughed up for his second straight start, allowing nine runs in four innings as the Indians lost 13-2.
"I’m always my worst critic,” Sabathia said. "It’s frustrating that I’ve pitched four games and not even given my team a chance in any of them. That’s unacceptable."
Cleveland’s staff ERA is 5.29.
Carmona (1-1, 2.20 ERA) pitched well enough to win each of his first two starts, allowing only one earned run in 13 innings. But he walked nine combined in those outings, and then yielded eight free passes in a 7-3 loss to Oakland on Saturday.
"It’s not going to get in my head," Carmona said after allowing three runs in 3 1-3 innings in that start. "I’m going to work and make sure I’m back."
His 17 walks lead the majors.
Carmona didn’t have many control issues against the Tigers last season. He was 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in four starts, striking out 23 and walking only four.
He may have his hands full as he faces Detroit for the first time in 2008. The Tigers’ offense couldn’t seem to hit anything in the first two weeks of the season, scoring just 33 runs in the team’s first 12 games.
But they’ve put up 30 in their last three, including the season-high 13 they scored against Sabathia and the Indians.
Two Tigers had five RBIs on Wednesday, including Miguel Cabrera. The power-hitting third baseman was acquired from Florida in the offseason to help lift Detroit’s already stacked lineup from very good to great.
But Cabrera’s transition to the AL has been a slow one. He was hitting just .205 with one home run and three RBIs before slugging a homer on Tuesday in Minnesota. He followed that up with four hits – including another long ball – on Wednesday.
While the Indians try to straighten out Sabathia’s problems, Detroit’s ace is having issues as well. Justin Verlander (0-2, 6.52) will oppose Carmona, and he’s dropped his last two starts, both against the White Sox.
Verlander lasted 7 2-3 innings on Saturday, but allowed six runs – walking four – in the Tigers’ 7-0 loss to Chicago. The struggles didn’t seem to be a cause for concern to Verlander.
"It’s baseball. Things happen," he told the team’s official Web site. "You can’t expect to go out and pitch well and get a win every time."
He’s rarely done either against the Indians. In his last six starts against Cleveland, he’s 1-4 with a 9.19 ERA. He’s 0-3 with a 12.91 ERA in his last three outings at Progressive Field.
Indians catcher Victor Martinez (.353) is the team’s hottest hitter so far in 2008, and he’s done plenty of damage against Verlander. He’s 7-for-24 (.292) against the Tigers’ right-hander, but four of those hits have been home runs.
