The Vegas odds favor the Tigers. Actually, the odds are pretty heavy in favor of the Tigers. I guess that is what happens when you sweep the Yankees. The guys who set the lines aren't stupid, but this seems to really discount the Giants chances so let's take a look.
- I start by estimating the runs scored and allowed for each team given the starting pitcher, bullpen, defense and each team’s offense.
- The data used in the projection model is based on the current season’s statistics to date and if a player has less than a full season of data it is supplemented with the ZiPS projections
- The estimated run differential is then converted into a projected winning percentage using the pythagorean expectation.
- Then, it’s converted into an odds of winning the game using the log5 method developed by Bill James
Probables:
Wednesday, October 24, 5:00 PM: Justin Verlander vs. Barry Zito PREVIEWThursday, October 25, 5:00 PM: Doug Fister vs. Madison Bumgarner
Saturday , October 27, 5:00 PM: Anibal Sanchez vs. Ryan Vogelsong
Sunday, October 28, 5:00 PM: Max Scherzer vs. Matt Cain
Monday, October 29, 5:00 PM*: Justin Verlander vs. Barry Zito
Wednesday, October 31, 5:00 PM*: Doug Fister vs. Madison Bumgarner
Thursday, November 1, 5:00 PM*: Anibal Sanchez vs. Ryan Vogelsong
*If necessary. There is always the chance that if the Tigers get down we'll see Verlander on short rest or Lincecum instead of Zito or Bumgarner for a second go-around.
Odds:
| Giants | Tigers | |
| Game 1 | 42% | 58% |
| Game 2 | 55% | 45% |
| Game 3 | 51% | 49% |
| Game 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Game 5 | 37% | 63% |
| Game 6 | 55% | 45% |
| Game 7 | 55% | 45% |
No real surprises here. Verlander moves the Tigers to the favorite on the games he starts. Cain and Vogelsong make the first two games in Detroit toss-ups. The big wild card: can Bumgarner fix whatever broke in his mechanics? The Giants think he has, so I really hope that is the case.
Here is how the different permutations turn out for the series, with the odds of each team winning in a certain number of games:
| Giants | Tigers | |
| Sweep | 6% | 6% |
| In 5 games | 9% | 16% |
| in 6 games | 16% | 15% |
| in 7 game | 17% | 14% |
| Total: | 49% | 51% |
With both teams being even it's no surprise that the chances of either team sweeping are low. The Tigers' best chance to win the Series is to finish things off at home in five games or less. Any longer and things favor the Giants.
Playing around with things, if Zito is capable of beating Verlander things move heavily into the Giants favor (67% chance of winning series). While a split of the first two games leaves things at 50/50 headed to Detroit.
Getting down 3-1 is probably a very bad idea. If that happens again, the odds of coming back slip to just 11% (by comparison their odds against St. Louis were at 18% in that situation).
I may be a homer, but my prediction is Giants in 7. I want another parade!
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