The LoHud Yankees Blog

One thing to know about today’s Tigers starter, Max Scherzer: He gives up a lot of home runs.

Sure, he also throws hard and has a good slider and pitched an eight-inning gem against the Yankees earlier this season, but only two American League pitchers allowed more home runs this season, and one was A.J. Burnett. Scherzer has a 3.80 ERA at spacious Comerica Park this season, but on the road his ERA is 5.23.

The Tigers had him lined up to start at home, but Friday’s rain has pushed Scherzer into a ballpark that’s much less-friendly to the way he pitches.

“My road splits are worse,” Scherzer said. “For me, it really doesn’t matter. Every start is a new start. For my challenge here to go out in Game 2 and pitch, it’s just like any other start. I prepare for it whether it was home or road. You take the ballpark completely out of it. I’m more worried about their lineup.”

Of course, the Yankees lineup hit more home runs than any other team in the big leagues.

It’s worth noting that Scherzer’s eight scoreless innings against the Yankees came in Detroit. When he faced the Yankees in the Bronx in April, Scherzer allowed six earned runs in five innings. Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada (twice) all homered off him.

“He’s got a great arm,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s got a good slider. He’s pitched well for them. He’s pitched pretty well against us. But he’s got a big arm. He’s got some run on his ball as well. You think about it goes back to that three-way trade. Here’s another guy that was involved in it. It’s worked out well for everyone.”

Associated Press photo

YANKEES (17-10)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Brett Gardner LF
Francisco Cervelli C

RHP Freddy Garcia (1-1, 2.00)
Garcia vs. Tigers

TIGERS (13-17)
Austin Jackson CF
Scott Sizemore 2B
Brennan Boesch LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Magglio Ordonez RF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Alex Avila C
Brandon Inge 3B

RHP Max Scherzer (4-0, 3.82)
Scherzer vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., YES Network

WEATHER: First thing Joe Girardi did when he sat down to talk to the media in the visiting dugout this afternoon was to make everyone turn around and look at the sky. There was sunshine. Haven’t seen that much this year, but this has been a pretty nice day in Detroit.

UMPIRES: HP Bill Welke, 1B Tim Tschida, 2B Jeff Nelson, 3B Marty Foster

GO GO GARDNER: In his past eight games, Brett Gardner has a .739 on-base percentage and a .571 batting average with six runs scored, nine walks and a stolen base. In his first 18 games this season he hit .136 with a .190 on-base percentage.

GO GO ROTATION: Even with CC Sabathia shaky start last night, the Yankees rotation has a 2.73 ERA through the past 15 games, a sample size of 99 innings. In that time, the Yankees have gone 10-5.

FOUR AWAY: Derek Jeter needs four hits to tie Willie Keeler on baseball’s all-time hits list. Jeter will move into 30th place when he matches Keeler’s total of 2,956.

UPDATE, 7:34 p.m.: Three straight singles to open the bottom of the second have given the Tigers a 1-0 lead and put Garcia in a bit of an early bind.

UPDATE, 7:59 p.m.: Garcia is once again having trouble with the middle of the order. RBI double by Miguel Cabrera and now a two-run home run by Magglio Ordonez. It’s 4-0 Tigers in the third.

UPDATE, 8:28 p.m.: Well, he’s not throwing curveballs, but Max Scherzer is dealing. His fastball-changeup combo has been very effective.

UPDATE, 8:40 p.m.: Intentional walk to Cabrera pays off as Garcia gets Martines and Ordonez to fly to left and strand two in the bottom of the fifth.