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Just over three months ago, Kyle Lohse and Armando Galarraga did not have jobs in the major leagues. Next month, they both might be in the All-Star game.
Two of baseball’s most surprising pitchers square off Wednesday when Lohse leads the St. Louis Cardinals against Galarraga and the Detroit Tigers.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Detroit -161 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 69% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -161 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
A nine-year journeyman, Lohse (9-2, 3.63 ERA) was an out-of-work free agent well into spring training, relegated to throwing to college hitters in his native northern California. He went 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA last season, split between Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and has not posted a winning record since going 14-11 with Minnesota in 2003.
Lohse ended up signing with St. Louis (45-33) on March 14, and his work with renowned Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan appears to have paid off. The right-hander is among the NL leaders in wins and walks per nine innings (2.19).
"He’s been in a good groove all year long," St. Louis catcher Jason LaRue said. "The thing is he’s getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes. If you get behind hitters a lot, it’ll eventually get you."
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Lohse has been red-hot lately, winning six consecutive starts while posting a 1.95 ERA. He defeated what are widely considered two of baseball’s top offenses in his last two outings, holding Boston and Philadelphia to a combined three earned runs and 10 hits in 14 innings.
Lohse has faced the Tigers 19 times – all with Minnesota from 2001-06 – and has gone 7-6 with a 5.74 ERA.
The day before Lohse officially signed with St. Louis, Galarraga was optioned to Triple-A by the Tigers (36-40). He was called up on April 16 and has turned into Detroit’s most consistent starter, as well as possibly the AL’s best rookie.
Opponents are hitting .184 against Galarraga (7-2, 3.03) and that would easily lead the majors if he had thrown enough innings to qualify. His seven wins tie him with Atlanta’s Jair Jurrjens for the major league lead among first-year players, and his ERA is second-best behind Cleveland’s Aaron Laffey (2.83) among rookies with at least 10 starts.
Galarraga has not given up an earned run in his last two starts – a span of 13 innings – and he’s won three straight. The right-hander has won four consecutive decisions overall since losing to Minnesota on May 23.
"He’s been a savior so far," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Galarraga, who has won all three of his interleague starts while posting a 0.95 ERA. "Obviously he’s given us innings. Not only has he given us innings he’s won games. That’s a bonus, no question about it."
The Tigers could use a good outing from Galarraga after their staff was ripped for 14 hits in an 8-4 loss to St. Louis in Tuesday’s series opener. It was the most hits and matched the most runs they have allowed in 17 games.
Detroit lost for just the third time in 13 games and had a six-game home winning streak snapped. The Tigers have not lost a series since suffering a three-game sweep at Oakland from June 2-4.
St. Louis is looking to win its seventh straight road series. This game marks the halfway point of a nine-game road trip for the Cardinals, who won two of three at Boston over the weekend.
While the finale of this series could see St. Louis’ Albert Pujols (strained calf) come off the disabled list, Detroit welcomed a slugger back to its lineup Tuesday as Gary Sheffield returned. The designated hitter, who had missed four weeks with an oblique strain, hit a two-run homer in his first game off the DL.
"If he gets rolling, that’s a big impact and our lineup is very deep," Leyland said. "That would be a big boost."
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