Armed and dangerous

The Tigers’ pitching certainly came up big on their nine-game West Coast trip. Detroit went 6-3, which is great, and is 13-9 for the season. That record is third best in the AL behind Bosox and Chisox.

Detroit’s pitching ranks No. 1 in the AL with a 3.62 ERA and tops with three shutouts. The Tigers are 7-for-7 in save chances, the only team in the AL without a blown save. The Tigers WHIP is 1.15, also No. 1. They are the only staff holding opponents to an on-base average below .300, coming in at .292. Their pitchers also throw the fewest pitches per inning, 15.04.

Chuck Hernandez is the Tigers pitching coach. He previously was the Devil Rays pitching coach, where last year his TB staff had a 5.39 ERA. I guess talent makes a difference? Last year, former Detroit pitching coach Bob Cluck predicted 2006 would be the year the staff took off.

Now if the bats could get going again, like the first week of the season. The Tigers have scored 100 runs, which ranks tied for ninth in the AL. They have 203 hits (5th) and 32 homers (1st). Their OPS is .785 (6th). They should be scoring more runs. The teams above them in OPS also rank in the top six for runs.

Of course, Detroit has 55 walks (tied for 10th) and 148 strikeouts (3rd). Lefthanders have been tough on the Tigers, holding them at .211 in 147 at-bats. They’re hitting .282 in 609 AB against righties.