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Tonight's game pits two very good clubs against one another. At 21-14, the Detroit Tigers have a .600 winning percentage that places them in second place in the American League Central, behind the reigning American League champion Kansas City Royals (22-13, .629). The St. Louis Cardinals have the best record in baseball at 24-10 (.706), which places them atop the National League Central standings. Neither club's record is a fluke. Consider their cumulative pitching and hitting stats.
Relief Pitching
ERA
- Cardinals: 1.71
- Tigers: 3.33
ERA-
- Cardinals: 45
- Tigers: 82
FIP
- Cardinals: 2.82
- Tigers: 3.83
FIP-
- Cardinals: 74
- Tigers: 96
xFIP
- Cardinals: 3.67
- Tigers: 4.10
xFIP-
- Cardinals: 95
- Tigers: 103
Starting Pitching
ERA
- Cardinals: 3.23
- Tigers: 4.03
ERA-
- Cardinals: 85
- Tigers: 98
FIP
- Cardinals: 3.38
- Tigers: 3.65
FIP-
- Cardinals: 88
- Tigers: 88
- Cardinals: 88
- Tigers: 88
xFIP
- Cardinals: 3.59
- Tigers: 3.55
- Cardinals: 3.59
- Tigers: 3.55
xFIP-
- Cardinals: 93
- Tigers: 89
- Cardinals: 93
- Tigers: 89
Hitting
BA
- Cardinals: .267
- Tigers: .277
OBP
- Cardinals: .331
- Tigers: .345
SLG
- Cardinals: .399
- Tigers: .424
ISO
- Cardinals: .131
- Tigers: .146
wOBA
- Cardinals: .318
- Tigers: .335
wRC+
- Cardinals: 100
- Tigers: 112
The Cardinals' pitching is likely a bit better. The Tigers' offense is likely superior. Of course, the Cards often get to pitch to lineups that feature an inept hitter in the form of the pitcher while the Tigers typically have to pitch to a DH. Likewise, the Cardinals' offensive stats are pulled down a bit by their horrendously hitting pitchers while the Detroit batting line is helped by the fact that they use a DH most of the time.
It should be a fun interleague series.