It’s that time of year again, kids.
Time for goofy match-ups like the Tigers hosting the Rockies. Time to watch your favorite pitchers flailing in the batter’s box while their opposition just chuckles. It’s time once again for Inter-League play.
Let’s see how each team fared last year and take a look at who they drew for the first weekend of cross-league action.
Chicago White Sox (12-6)
Best Stat: +31 run differential, 103 RS – 72 RA
The Sox had a lot of success in inter-league play last season, especially at home. The Pale Hose went 7-2 at the Cell, with two sweeps including the lowly Pirates and crosstown rival Cubs. Another strong stint will help them to make up much-needed ground within the division.
The Sox will welcome those same Pirates to the Cell this weekend, hoping to replicate the offensive show they put on against them last year. The Sox outscored the Bucs 37-15, muscling up for ten long balls in the three game sweep.
Cleveland Indians (6-12)
Best Stat: 17 HR, 5 by Grady Sizemore
The Indians were not a part of the AL party that the MLB passed off as Inter-League play. The pitching staff had an ERA of almost 4.50 and the offense struck once every four at bats (153 times in 611 ABs). They need a better showing this season if they hope to turn around their sluggish start.
The Indians will visit their in-state rivals with a trip to Cincinnati for the weekend. Last year the tribe was swept out of Great American Small-Park and mustered just a 1-5 record against the Reds, dropping their overall series lead to 30-27.
Detroit Tigers (13-5)
Best Stat: .306 BA, .418 by Curtis Granderson (28 hits in 18 games)
The Tigers feasted on NL pitching, pummeling their opponents for 191 hits in 18 games last season. They lost just once at home in nine games, sweeping the Dodgers and Rockies. Detroit sits atop the Central Division and will look to have similar success against the NL to extend their lead.
The Rockies are back in town this weekend for the second straight year, and oddly enough the two teams have played each other 15 times despite the geographical disparity. Colorado leads the overall series 9-6.
Kansas City Royals (13-5)
Best Stat: 12 wins by starting pitchers, 3 each for Gil Meche and Zack Greinke
Royals pitching decided to show up for their Inter-League games in a big way last year, sporting a 3.68 ERA, nearly a full point lower than their season total of 4.50. With Zack Greinke already cruising through the AL this season, the NL should prove to be small potatoes for him this go around too.
The Royals will visit St. Louis this weekend for the first three of six with the Cardinals. The Royals swept the red birds there last season, who still hold a 28-23 all-time advantage over KC, and will need to do the same to make up some ground on Division leader Detroit.
Minnesota Twins (14-4)
Best Stat: 10 gm winning streak against NL, 3 sweeps
Minnesota had the most fun with the NL last year, having the luck of not drawing the Dodgers in the NL west, rather facing Colorado, San Diego and Arizona while getting a home series with Washington somehow. The Twins took advantage, posting a +47 run differential and sweeping the Nats, D-Backs and Pads back-to-back-to-back.
The Twins host the NL Central leading Brew Crew this weekend and will look to build on their destruction of the White Sox from Thursday afternoon. The Twins took four of six from Milwaukee last year, extending their overall series lead to 29-23 since 1998 when the Brewers went from old division foe to NL rival.
This set of Inter-League play lasts just this weekend, so we’ll be back in mid-June with in-depth previews of each team’s Inter-League schedule and predictions.
