Detroit at Oakland - Game 2, FOX/FX, 8:05
Detroit leads series, 1-0
Justin Verlander, RH (17-9, 3.63) v. Esteban Loaiza, RH (11-9, 4.89)
Verlander put up a 2.78 ERA this season in day games, and since this is technically at 5:05 local time, maybe we split the difference between that and his 3.98 ERA at night. Which of course leads us to 3.63. Interesting, no! I am such a thinker.
Loaiza was much better in Oakland than he was on the road in 2006, going 7-3 with a 3.71 ERA at McAfee Coliseum (4-6, 6.08 on the road). He was solid if unspectacular against the Twins in the ALDS, same as Verlander against was against the Yankees. The A's need this one, because it's not going to be easy to beat Rogers and Bonderman at Kramerica. This Detroit team is hyped right now.
St. Louis at NY Mets - Game 1, FOX/FX, 8:05
Jeff Weaver, RH (8-14, 5.76) v. Tom Glavine, LH (15-7, 3.82)
Big advantage for the Mets as far as the starting pitchers go, and really they're a far better team. I picked the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals because the Dodgers had a full rotation, and that's also why I picked the Dodgers to go to the World Series. But I also picked the Twins, so shows what I know. The Mets are similar to the Cardinals but they're more what the Cardinals are attempting to be. Delgado is no Pujols, but they have David Wright (the next generation's Scott Rolen) and Beltran and Jose Reyes and Lo Duca and all kinds of guys that contribute offensively. The Cardinals live and die on what Pujols does, even though they do have other good players. They just don't have enough of them, and having one starter is bad news.