Todays Series Game 2 Matchup Details

Player match stat positives for Cleveland at Detroit Series Game 2 Matchup Today

Home field advantage typically boosts pitcher stats in all categories, and Kenta Maeda will hold that advantage in today’s matchup.

Kenta Maeda’s fastball velocity over his last 3 games started (90.8 mph) has been significantly higher than than his seasonal rate (89.7 mph).

Kenta Maeda’s high utilization rate of his secondary pitches (68.4% this year) ought to work in his favor considering they are typically much more effective than fastballs.

Given the 1.87 disparity between Kenta Maeda’s 6.86 K/9 and his 8.73 estimated true talent K/9 (via the leading projection system, THE BAT), it’s safe to say he’s been one of the least fortunate pitchers in the majors this year as it relates to strikeouts and figures to see positive regression the rest of the season.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT), Bo Naylor (the Guardians’s expected catcher in today’s game) projects as a good pitch framer.

Tuesday Series Game 2 player match stat slumps with Guardians vs Tigers Matchup

The Cleveland Guardians (18.8 K% (via the leading projection system, THE BAT X) are projected to have the 2nd-least strikeout-prone group of hitters of all teams on the slate today.

The #1 venue in Major League Baseball for suppressing strikeouts, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Comerica Park.

Comerica Park sits at the 9th-highest altitude in the majors. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to more offense.

With 8 batters of the opposite hand in the opposing team’s projected lineup, Kenta Maeda will have a tough challenge while lacking the platoon advantage in most plate appearances today.

Among all SPs, Kenta Maeda’s fastball velocity of 89.7 mph is in the 7th percentile this year.

Ben Lively will be at a disadvantage playing away from home in today’s game.

Ben Lively’s fastball spin rate over his last 3 GS (1966 rpm) has been a considerable dropoff from than his seasonal rate (2016 rpm).

Ben Lively’s higher usage rate of his fastball this year (60.3 compared to 54.4% last season) is not ideal considering they are generally much less effective than breaking or off-speed pitches.