San Francisco @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2008 ) Detroit 7, San Francisco 2
THE STORY: An intriguing interleague clash of first-place teams starts Friday when the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants visit the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Giants’ dominant starting pitchers will try to stifle the Tigers’ potent offense, which ranks sixth in the majors with 373 runs (4.5 per game). San Francisco owns the majors’ fourth-best ERA at 3.20.
TV: 7:05 p.m., FS-D, CSN-BA
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Brad Penny (5-6, 4.66 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (4-9, 3.84 ERA)
Penny has been tough at home this season (3.28 ERA) and owns a 6-3 career mark with a 3.05 ERA against the Giants. Impressive numbers to be certain, but Penny isn't blowing anyone away this year. He has 42 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings. Penny has owned Aubrey Huff (0-for-13), but Bill Hall (5-for-15, homer) gives him trouble. The 21-year-old Bumgarner struck out a career-high 11 in his last start. His record reflects poor run support.
ABOUT THE TIGERS (44-38): Justin Verlander won’t pitch in this series, and that’s good news for San Francisco. Verlander went 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA in June. He stopped the bleeding in Thursday’s 5-2 win over the New York Mets after Detroit had given up 30 runs in losing the previous two games. Rookie Andy Dirks has six homers in 92 at-bats. Outfielder Brennan Boesch is 15 for his last 38 and batted .379 in June. Miguel Cabrera leads the club in average (.332), homers (17), RBIs (56) and on-base percentage (.453). Boesch, Cabrera and Victor Martinez all have smacked at least 20 doubles this season.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (46-36): San Francisco has dropped two straight heartbreakers after its seven-game win streak. Closer Brian Wilson, who leads the majors with 24 saves, blew his third save opportunity in Thursday’s 5-2 loss at the Chicago Cubs. Pablo Sandoval is on an 8-for-21 tear and could have been the hero Thursday. His 13th-inning homer gave the Giants a short-lived 2-1 lead.
FINAL PITCH: Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced that struggling starter Phil Coke (1-8) has been moved to the bullpen. He is being replaced by lefthander Charlie Furbush, who will make his first career start Monday against the Los Angeles Angels.