2011 Post-Season Quality Start Scorecard

Games played to date (thru 10/12/11): 28.            Total Quality Starts Thrown: 18 (3 in LCS games, all by the Tigers)

Games with 2 pitchers with a  quality starts: 4

Record when only 1 pitcher has a quality start: 8-2 (1-2 in LCS games)

NLCS Quality Start Report

Review:

In the NLDS, the Cardinals had 3 quality start (2-1) in 5 games. The Brewers had 2 quality starts, both wins in their 5 game NLDS series.

GAME-BY-GAME

Game 1: Brewers 9 – Cardinals 6.

Neither Zach Greinke or  and Jaime Garcia pitched a quality start. Greinke left the game after 6 innings, allowing 7 runs. Garcia struggled, allowing 6 runs in only 4 innings. The Brewers continue their hot play at home and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

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Game 2: Cardinals 12 – Brewers 3

A mid-season acquisition, Edwin Jackson started for the Cards to a game 2 victory, but he did not make the quality start minimum (only 4 1/3 innings pitched). Brewers starter Shaun Marcum struggled in his second straight post-season start. The Cardinals upset the Brewers in Milwaukee to even the series as it heads back to St. Louis.

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Game 3: Cardinals 4 – Brewers 3

Both starters, Chris Carpenter and Yovani Gallardo, struggled early in the game and both only pitched 5 innings. The Cardinals scored all 4 of their runs in the first inning off Gallardo. So after a combined 5 quality starts by these two teams in the NLDS round, after 3 games and 6 starts, there have been zero quality starts in the NLCS. Only game 1 starter Zach Greinke has even made it into the 6th inning.

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NLCS QUALITY START SUMMARY

Cardinals: 0 quality starts

Brewers: 0 quality starts

ALCS Quality Start Report

Review:

In the ALDS, the Rangers had only 1 quality start (1-0) in 4 games. The Tigers also had only 1 QS (1-0) in 5 games.

GAME-BY-GAME

Game 1: Rangers 3 – Tigers 2.

Neither Justin Verlander and C.J. Wilson pitched a quality start. Verlander left the game after 4 innings, allowing 3 runs. Wilson fared only slightly better, lasting 4 2/3 innings and giving up 2 runs. The bullpens did there job quite well, as that was the end of the scoring.

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Game 2: Rangers 7 – Tigers 3 (11)

Courtesy of 2 late Nelson Cruz home runs, the Rangers beat the Tigers. This win is notable from a quality start stat standpoint, as it marks the first time in the post-season when the team that opposed the only pitcher who earned a quality start in the game has won. So, Max Scherzer of the Tigers pitched 6 innings, allowing only 3 runs – and the Tigers lost. Derek Holland struggled and did not make it through the 3rd inning.

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Game 3: Tigers 5 – Rangers 2

Doug Fister pitched an effective 7 1/3 innings, giving up only 2 runs, as the Tigers won at home. First quality start of the post-season for Fister and the third for the Tigers in 8 games. For the Rangers, Colby Lewis pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up 4 runs. Rangers lead the series 2-1, despite not having a quality start yet . The Rangers only have 1 quality start in 7 games, but have a 5-2 record overall.

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Game 4: Rangers 7 – Tigers 3 (11)

Just like game 2 of this series, the Rangers scored 4 in the 11th to win, and again Nelson Cruz hit an 11th inning home run. Deja vu all over again. As for the pitching, the Rangers’ Matt Harrison threw 5 innings, giving up 2 runs. It was another great effort by the Rangers bullpen (6 IP, 1 run), continuing an outstanding series. The Tigers starter, Rick Porcello, had a quality start (6 IP, 2 ER). This is the 2nd time in this series that the Tigers have had a quality start, the Rangers have not had a quality start, and yet the Rangers won the game. This is bucking the trend set in the Division Series, when teams with quality starts (and none by the opposition) went 7-0. This was the 3rd straight quality start by the Tigers.

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ALCS QUALITY START SUMMARY

Tigers: 3 quality starts (1-2)

Rangers: 0 quality starts