Game 86: Galaragga looks to prove he is "back"

After allowing only an earned run in each of his last two starts, Galaragga looks to prove that he is actually a legit option in the back end of the rotation and that his good starts against the A's and Royals had little to do with them being bad teams. Verlander dominating the Royals is one thing. Galaragga doing it leaves one skeptical. That is just the way it is. Today, he goes against a team with guys like Sizemore, Hafner, Martinez and Choo who should match up well with Galaragga. This is a big game for him.

In his last start against the Indians, he allowed 5 runs in 5 innings in a forgettable start. Sizemore and Choo both have an OPS above 1.000 and may need to be pitched around today. As mentioned yesterday, Choo is the best slider hitter on the Indians and that is Galaragga's best pitch. We will see what Armando has tonight.

Carl Pavano is opposing us tonight. He was always a pitcher that interested me, especially after his great 2004 season with the Marlins and his great postseason work in 2003 on their run to the title. Unfortunately, his numerous injuries during his days with the Yankees robbed him of his prime.

This year, he has returned to being at least a respectable back of the rotation starter. He has a 5.36 ERA, but he has peripheral numbers that suggest his ERA should decline as the year goes on. He does allow a .301 batting average against but his FIP of 3.76 comes with a real high BABIP of .344 and a criminally low LOB % of just 61.9%. His K/BB rate of 3.55 is outstanding. In other words, do not just look at his ERA when evaluating his pitching this year.

Pavano is a three pitch pitcher with a fastball, change, and slider. Both his slider and change have been plus pitches this year. Pavano has reverse splits this year with right handers hitting for a better OPS than lefties do against him. Ordonez, Inge and Everett all have an OPS above .800 against him. Obviously because of the platoon, Ordonez will not be getting a chance to improve upon those numbers today. Miguel Cabrera, in particular, matches up very well against Pavano (who doesn't he match up well against?). Could today be the day where he breaks out of his mini slump (2 RBI and an OPS below .700 in his last 12 games)? I say yes.

Lets take the second game of this series.