Ohlendorf, New Pirates Lineup to Attack Tigers

Justin Verlander and Ross Ohlendorf had some tough times in April, but the Detroit Tigers stud has looked more like himself the past month and a half.  Meanwhile, Ross the Boss is still looking for his first win of 2010 and behind him tonight is an even more complex lineup than Pirates manager

John Russell has ever penciled on his lineup card this season.

For some reason,  Russell selected Ryan Church as the designated hitter and left the name Jose Tabata off his card tonight.  Let’s hope this lineup can shock the world tonight in Detroit, because it sure does appear light on the hitting side.  The lineup faces the Tiger right hander with a dominating 9-1 record in 13 interleague starts.

Verlander has a 3.65 ERA and since May 1 he has lasted at least six innings in all seven starts.  He is nearly unhittable at home for Detroit who has dropped 12 of their last 18 games.

The Pirates went 8-7 against the AL in 2009, but the Bucs still hold the worst major league record in interlegaue play at 71-110 all-time.    The Bucs have lost five straight and have eleven losses in past 14 games..

Ross Ohlendorf  takes his  4.30 ERA and a shaky 23 walks and 23 strikeouts to the bump.  Ohlendorf has made three consecutive quality starts but has no wins due to a collection of Pirates calamaties.  He hasn’t exactly had great command, but somehow Ohlendorf’s pitches have missed bats.

Ohlendorf held the Tigers to two hits over six innings in a 6-3 Pirates win last June at PNC.

The Tigers need this nine game home stretch badly.  The Bucs, Nats and DBacks certainly look like a combination for Detroit to get back on track.  The Tigers are sitting at 4.5 games back of the Twins in the AL Central.   With the Pirates featherweight lineup, it appears the Tigers could start growling again very soon.