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DETROIT ( VERLANDER )
KANSAS CITY ( VARGAS ) |
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7.5ov
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Final
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| 923 | DETROIT | +110 | Ov 8,-110 | +105 | Ov 7.5,+100 | | 924 | KANSAS CITY | -120 | Un 8,-110 | -115 | Un 7.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 84-68 | -3.1 | 80-66 | 4.7 | 0.278 | 0.331 | 4.4 | 0.263 | 0.320 | | Road Games | 43-35 | +4 | 39-36 | 4.8 | 0.271 | 0.322 | 4.2 | 0.260 | 0.318 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 26-22 | -2.9 | 23-23 | 4.4 | 0.280 | 0.331 | 4.6 | 0.263 | 0.315 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | 0 | 5-2 | 4.7 | 0.289 | 0.340 | 4.4 | 0.293 | 0.342 | | Grass Games | 81-65 | -2.6 | 77-63 | 4.7 | 0.280 | 0.332 | 4.4 | 0.265 | 0.321 | | Night Games | 54-41 | +2.1 | 50-42 | 4.8 | 0.280 | 0.331 | 4.3 | 0.262 | 0.314 | | Division | 37-29 | -2.4 | 38-24 | 5.3 | 0.297 | 0.346 | 4.7 | 0.275 | 0.336 |
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| All Games | 4.7 | 0.278 | 0.331 | 152 | 5293 | 1469 | 481 | 147 | 0.03 | 695 | 420 | 1074 | 100 | 1038 | 156 | 97 | | | | Road Games | 4.8 | 0.271 | 0.322 | 78 | 2837 | 769 | 260 | 76 | 0.03 | 369 | 212 | 622 | 49 | 541 | 75 | 49 | | | | Lefty Starters | 4.4 | 0.280 | 0.331 | 48 | 1654 | 463 | 142 | 45 | 0.03 | 204 | 126 | 334 | 29 | 331 | 46 | 39 | | |
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| All Games | 4.28 | 1.494 | 421 | 222 | 200 | 445 | 41 | 184 | 368 | 21-17 | 38 | 16 | 70.4% | | Road Games | 3.92 | 1.449 | 216 | 104 | 94 | 218 | 20 | 95 | 190 | 12-11 | 22 | 11 | 66.7% |
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| All Games | 83-68 | +3.6 | 67-76 | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.309 | 3.9 | 0.251 | 0.306 | | Home Games | 41-36 | -7.8 | 36-39 | 3.8 | 0.253 | 0.304 | 4.2 | 0.263 | 0.315 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 60-49 | +0.2 | 50-53 | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.305 | 3.7 | 0.248 | 0.306 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -3.6 | 5-1 | 4.4 | 0.256 | 0.333 | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.306 | | Grass Games | 79-65 | +2.1 | 64-73 | 4.0 | 0.260 | 0.308 | 3.8 | 0.251 | 0.305 | | Night Games | 59-43 | +8 | 43-52 | 4.1 | 0.262 | 0.309 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.302 | | Division | 33-32 | -5.6 | 33-30 | 4.2 | 0.266 | 0.319 | 4.3 | 0.264 | 0.320 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.309 | 151 | 5157 | 1346 | 378 | 92 | 0.02 | 563 | 358 | 903 | 142 | 998 | 142 | 97 | | | | Home Games | 3.8 | 0.253 | 0.304 | 77 | 2522 | 639 | 184 | 42 | 0.02 | 268 | 182 | 441 | 81 | 479 | 61 | 47 | | | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.305 | 109 | 3725 | 963 | 268 | 64 | 0.02 | 407 | 249 | 643 | 107 | 709 | 91 | 63 | | |
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| All Games | 3.42 | 1.257 | 424 | 176 | 161 | 374 | 30 | 159 | 402 | 26-16 | 48 | 11 | 81.4% | | Home Games | 4.14 | 1.357 | 226.3 | 108 | 104 | 218 | 18 | 89 | 227 | 18-7 | 27 | 6 | 81.8% |
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| 9/5/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | PEAVY(R) | 2-8 | L | -135 | 8.5 ov | O | 8 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 1 | | 9/6/2014 | PRICE(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | 4-5 | L | -140 | 7 ov | O | 11 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 9/7/2014 | LOBSTEIN(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | 6-1 | W | -120 | 8.5 un | U | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | | 9/8/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 9-5 | W | -135 | 8.5 un | O | 15 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | | 9/9/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 4-2 | W | -165 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 2 | | 9/10/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | KANSAS CITY | SHIELDS(R) | 0-3 | L | -110 | 8.5 un | U | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 9/12/2014 | PRICE(L) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 7-2 | W | -155 | 7 un | O | 11 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 9/13/2014 | LOBSTEIN(L) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 5-4 | W | -110 | 8 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 9/14/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 6-4 | W | -140 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 1 | | 9/15/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | SWARZAK(R) | 8-6 | W | -170 | 7.5 un | O | 16 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | | 9/16/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 3-4 | L | -125 | 8 ev | U | 8 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 9/17/2014 | PRICE(L) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 4-8 | L | -165 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 9/19/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | | | 9/20/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | SHIELDS(R) | | | 9/21/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 9/22/2014 | LOBSTEIN(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | | | 9/23/2014 | PRICE(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | | | 9/24/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | | | 9/25/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | | | 9/26/2014 | | MINNESOTA | | |
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| 9/5/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 1-0 | W | 110 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 9/6/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ NY YANKEES | MCCARTHY(R) | 2-6 | L | 110 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | | 9/7/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ NY YANKEES | GREENE(R) | 2-0 | W | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | | 9/8/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | 5-9 | L | 125 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 9/9/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | 2-4 | L | 155 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 9/10/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ DETROIT | PORCELLO(R) | 3-0 | W | 100 | 8.5 un | U | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 9/11/2014 | HENDRIKS(R) | BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 3-6 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 9/12/2014 | VENTURA(R) | BOSTON | WEBSTER(R) | 2-4 | L | -195 | 7 un | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 9/13/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | BOSTON | DE LA ROSA(R) | 7-1 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | | 9/14/2014 | VARGAS(L) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | 4-8 | L | -165 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | | 9/15/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 4-3 | W | -230 | 7 un | P | 9 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 1 | | 9/16/2014 | HENDRIKS(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | BASSITT(R) | 5-7 | L | -175 | 8 un | O | 9 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 9/17/2014 | VENTURA(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 6-2 | W | -110 | 6.5 un | O | 11 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | | 9/19/2014 | VARGAS(L) | DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | | | 9/20/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | | | 9/21/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | DETROIT | PORCELLO(R) | | | 9/22/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | | | 9/23/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | | 9/24/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | | | 9/25/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | | | | 9/26/2014 | | @ CHI WHITE SOX | | |
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| |  | DETROIT: DETROIT (AP) - When Justin Verlander takes the mound for Detroit on opening day, maybe then the Tigers will be able to enjoy a much-needed sense of normalcy.
As an offseason of drama gave way to spring training injuries, it was easy to forget the Tigers still have one of the most talented rosters in baseball. Sure, there have been some early problems for new manager Brad Ausmus to address, Detroit still figures to be the favorite to win its fourth consecutive AL Central title.
''We have a new look this year,'' outfielder Torii Hunter said. ''Little bit more speed and we'll miss the big man, but we'll score some runs.''
The ''big man'' is Prince Fielder, whom the Tigers traded to Texas in a blockbuster deal that brought second baseman Ian Kinsler to Detroit. That move gave the Tigers more financial flexibility, although they weren't all that aggressive in pursuing free agents. Detroit did sign Joe Nathan to replace departed closer Joaquin Benoit.
The Tigers also traded right-hander Doug Fister to Washington.
Lately, the focus has been on right-hander Max Scherzer, who enters his final season before free agency after winning the Cy Young Award in 2013. Negotiations with the Tigers on a long-term deal have stalled.
''They respect where I'm at. I respect where they're at, and we'll revisit this after the season,'' Scherzer said. ''I still want to be in Detroit. I love this clubhouse and everything about it. There's been a history of this team signing free agents so hopefully I'll be a part of that history as well.''
But right now Scherzer's future is uncertain, and with Hunter and Victor Martinez in the final season of their contracts, it's hard to say what Detroit's 2015 roster will look like.
So the Tigers may never have a better chance to win a World Series with this group than right now.
| | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - James Shields thinks back to last year, thoughtfully piecing together what was missing from the Kansas City Royals as they made a late push for the postseason.
The pitching was strong. The offense was coming around. The defense was sublime.
He finally settled on experience.
''These guys that didn't realize or have never been to September, when you're fighting for a playoff spot, now you have that experience,'' Shields said. ''And I think that was one of the things we were lacking last season, the experience. You tend to put too much on your shoulders. And I think the second half we definitely relaxed and put all that aside and had fun and played the game the way we know how to play, and it showed.
''I think with the experience factor now,'' Shields concluded, ''we're ready to go.''
After finishing 86-76 a year ago, and contending into September for the first time in a decade, the Royals have their sets sight squarely on their first playoff appearance since 1985 this year.
Anything less would be a disappointment. Anything less would be a failure.
''Last year was a blast. When the end of the season came in Chicago, nobody wanted to leave,'' first baseman Eric Hosmer said. ''They knew how close we were. We were right there. And it left a good taste in everyone's mouth going into the offseason, knowing how good everyone can be.''
Indeed, the Royals return most of their key players from a year ago, signing left-hander Jason Vargas to replace their only significant loss, starting pitcher Ervin Santana. They also upgraded at their weakest spots, trading for Norichika Aoki to play right field and bat leadoff and signing Omar Infante to settle a second base position that has been a black hole for years.
All of which left the notoriously frugal franchise with a record-setting payroll.
Royals manager Ned Yost hopes all those moves will pay off for a rotation that was among the league's best last year, and an offense that was among the league's worst.
''It's going to be a lineup that has offensive sequence from one to nine. You're not going to have any dead spots,'' Yost said. ''You're not going to get something going and then bam, run into a wall and have to get going again. At least, I hope not. I don't think so.''
So with more experience and an upgraded lineup, Kansas City enters its season opener Sunday at Detroit with boundless enthusiasm. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (DETROIT-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Tigers-Royals Preview* =======================
By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer
Detroit (84-68) at Kansas City (83-68), 8:10 p.m. EDT
With the season winding down, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are ready to put it all on the line this weekend.
Justin Verlander takes the mound opposite Jason Vargas as these AL Central rivals open a vital three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.
The Tigers (84-68) enter Friday night's showdown one-half game ahead of the Royals (83-68) for first place.
"Nothing needs to be said. There's not a person in this clubhouse that doesn't understand the importance of this series," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "This is fun. There should be a lot of energy - a lot more energy in the stands on the Royals side."
Royals fans haven't had much to cheer about, though, losing six of seven to the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Detroit is 11-5 in the season series.
"That's a big series, for the whole year," Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar said. "The team is going really good right now. Detroit, everybody knows, is good. Coming in here, it's exciting, playing at home. It's going to be a great series."
The Tigers are on the verge of losing three straight for the first time since Aug. 21-23 after falling 8-4 at Minnesota on Wednesday. Miguel Cabrera stayed hot with four more hits and an RBI but the Tigers couldn't overcome another shaky start from David Price.
"What we've got to do is keep playing the game the way we know how to play, control what we can control, go out there and prepare (ourselves) and have good at-bats and play good defense and make good pitches," Torii Hunter said. "(If) we do that, I think we'll be fine."
The Royals improved to 3-4 on a 10-game homestand after beating the Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Wednesday. Lorenzo Cain went 3 for 5 with a three-run homer and Nori Aoki collected three more hits.
Aoki went 11 for 13 against the White Sox, setting a team record for most hits in a three-game series.
"Right now, Nori's gotten hot, and we needed that, we needed some guys getting hot, creating some scoring opportunities," manager Ned Yost said. "We need to mix in a few more guys to get hot like him and we'll be in great shape."
Aoki also walked twice in the White Sox series and is 2 for 11 with five walks against Verlander (13-12, 4.81 ERA), who surrendered three runs, six hits and three walks over 5 2-3 innings in Sunday's 6-4 win over Cleveland, though he didn't get a decision. The right-hander didn't have his usual velocity and was dealing with a blister on his thumb, an injury he doesn't expect to hinder him Friday.
Opponents are hitting .311 against Verlander over his last six starts, during which he's posted a 6.00 ERA. He gave up four runs over seven innings to beat Kansas City 9-5 on Sept. 8, improving to 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA in three starts in the series since the beginning of June.
Verlander has baffled several Royals hitters over the years, including Mike Moustakas (8 for 47), Alcides Escobar (11 for 53) and Alex Gordon (16 for 75). However, Billy Butler is a career .415 hitter in their matchups and Salvador Perez is 14 for 33 with a homer and seven doubles.
Vargas (11-9, 3.41) was tagged for five runs over 5 1-3 innings in Sunday's 8-4 defeat to Boston, dropping to 1-4 with a 4.60 ERA since Aug. 24.
One of those losses came 4-2 at Detroit on Sept. 9 after yielding all four runs over 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three outings against the Tigers.
Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler are a combined 10 for 23 with two homers and three doubles against Vargas this year. Cabrera has doubled twice in nine at-bats.
Cabrera is batting a league-leading .469 with six homers, six doubles and 12 RBIs this month.
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| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 4:52:34 AM EST. |
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