Justin Verlander and Jake Peavy will each take the mound for their respective teams when the Chicago White Sox open a three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers tonight. Here's a tale of the tape on what could be quite the pitchers duel in Comerica Park this evening.
-- Each pitcher has a Cy Young Award to his name: Peavy won the award in 2007 after going 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA in 2007 with the Padres; Verlander won the award last year, going 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA
-- Peavy has pitched in three All-Star Games (2005, 2007, 2012), while Verlander has appeared in five (2007, 2009-2012)
-- Both pitchers have led their respective leagues in strikeouts twice, Verlander in 2009 and 2011; Peavy in 2005 and 2007
-- Twice Peavy has led his league in ERA (2004, 2007), while Verlander has done so once (2011).
-- Verlander was named the American League MVP in 2011, the first pitcher to do so since 1992
2012 splits
Verlander and Peavy are both having impressive regular seasons in 2012. Verlander sits at 10-5 with a 2.43 ERA, while Peavy has bounced back nicely from last season with a 7-6 record and a 3.12 ERA.
Peavy is 1-0 with a 5.15 ERA in three starts against the Tigers this year. Verlander is yet to face the White Sox.
Both pitchers were selected to the American League roster for the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City. Verlander, the team's starter, allowed five earned runs in 1.0 inning, while Peavy did not pitch.
Both pitchers have made one start since the All-Star break. Verlander threw eight shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles to pick up the win, while Peavy allowed six earned runs in a 6-3 loss to the Royals.
Career splits
Peavy made one start against the Tigers with the Padres, but became well-acquainted with Detroit shortly after his trade to the White Sox. Two of his first three starts for the White Sox came against Detroit, where Peavy threw for a combined 15 innings of shutout ball, striking out 13 while picking up wins in both starts.
For his career, Peavy holds a 3-2 record and a 4.26 ERA in eight career starts against the Tigers. He took the loss in his one start with the Padres, surrendering 5 runs (3 earned) through six innings in an 8-4 loss.
It has been a tale of two careers for Verlander, and his statistics against the White Sox are no exception. In 25 career starts, he is 12-10 with a 4.13 ERA against Chicago.
But in the past three seasons, Verlander holds a 10-1 record with a a 2.32 ERA in 11 starts against the South Siders. That stretch of play includes three All-Star games (including one start), a Cy Young Award and an American League MVP for Verlander.
The two have faced each other one time in their careers, on July 26 of last season in Chicago. Verlander picked up the win, going eight innings and allowing four runs (both two-run homers from Dunn and Konerko).
Peavy took a no-decision, allowing four earned runs in six innings before being pulled after 111 pitches. The Tigers would plate a run in the top of the 8th inning, a Wilson Betemit RBI single, off Jesse Crain to take a 5-4 lead they would not surrender. Verlander, of course, would go on to win the American League MVP that year.