Hit men

The Tigers are riding an incredible wave of run-scoring production. Over the last 9 games, Detroit has scored double digits 4 times and scored 9 runs twice. For the season, the Tigs have hit double figures 10 times and scored 9 runs on 4 occasions. That's nearly one-quarter of their games to date.

Last year, Detroit had 16 games with 10 or more runs and another 8 with 9 runs. Five of the 2006 double-digit bashings came against Kansas City.

Over the last 9, the Tigs have put up some unbelievable numbers. They are hitting .350/.402/.556 with 13 HR and 75 RBI overall. They're bashing lefties at .375/.430/.608 and hitting righties at .338/.387/.530. With RISP, they're .394/.438/.576. They're also getting off to fast starts, batting .458/.490/.833 in the first inning. They're hitting no worse than .375 in any of the first four innings during this span.

Now the Mets come to town after getting swept in their Bizarro World series with the Phillies. The Tigs will send Chad Durbin, Jeremy Bonderman and Andrew Miller to the hill. Miller has taken over the rotation spot from Nate Robertson, who was put on the DL with a "tired arm." I think that means Detroit got tired of seeing that arm come forward and not get anyone out. The Tigers also put pitcher Zach Miner on the DL.

The Miller-Glavine matchup holds potential as one of the game's great lefties meets one of the (hopefully) next great southpaws. The 22-year-old Miller threw 6 shutout innings against the Cardinals in his only start this year. He was 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in 4 starts at Double-A Erie. He struck out 24 and walked 5 in 30.2 IP and had a 0.88 WHIP.