The D-Backs are only three games over .500 overall but are a sparkling 12-5 at home as they enter a long homestand. Detroit has split its first 30 games on the season and would love to go on the road and sweep this series.
These are two pretty evenly contested teams, so this figures to be a competitive series which could come down to which one hits better. It is only two games, so while the most likely result is a split, each side would be well-served to come away with a pair of victories.
This series will be contested from Tuesday, May 9 through Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Pitching Matchups
The first game between these teams is a matchup of a pair of impressive arms. Longtime Tigers ace Justin Verlander is slated to start on Tuesday. He has a 2-2 on the season with a 4.21 ERA. He has 35 strikeouts in 36.1 innings, and if Verlander can get his walks down he should see his ERA drop as the year goes on.
The Diamondbacks are scheduled to counter with Robbie Ray. He has been really good this season, entering with a 2-2 record and a 3.47 ERA. Ray has 49 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched and should continue to find success if he can keep mowing down batters at that rate.
In Game 2, the Tigers are expected to send Matt Boyd to the mound. He is 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA, although his strikeout to walk ratio is poor and the Diamondbacks could have a big game against him.
There could be a lot of runs on Wednesday as Arizona will use Zack Godley to start. The D-Backs recently lost Shelby Miller for the season because of Tommy John surgery and Godley is filling in. He was solid in a spot start in April, allowing only two runs in five innings against the Padres, but he has a major league career ERA of 5.26 and is facing a tough lineup.
Player to Watch
The Tigers have several sluggers in the middle of the lineup, and one is a former Diamondbacks all-star. Justin Upton will return to Arizona after the team made him the No. 1 overall pick out of high school.
Upton played well for the D-Backs but never quite lived up to the gargantuan expectations placed upon him. He is batting .264 on the season with five home runs and 15 RBIs. Upton has an .869 OPS, leading the way as some of his veteran teammates have gotten off to slower starts. Upton is very familiar with Chase Field and should be able to hit well here in this series.
Key Stat
Four. That’s the number of losses for the Diamondbacks in their past five games as they have dropped 2.5 games behind the Rockies in the National League West. All of those losses came on the road to the Nationals and Rockies, and Arizona will be happy to return home.
The Diamondbacks have won four of five home series this year and will host the Pirates and the Mets following these two games against the Tigers. Arizona would love to start it off with a pair of victories, but it won’t be easy with Verlander on the mound in the opener. The Diamondbacks have a good offense, and they will aim to strike early before he can settle in.
Both of these teams are hoping to make the playoffs this season and piling up wins early in the year is integral to stay in contention.
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