PANTHERS ADVISORY WARNING: Only eight Presidents' Trophy winners - the team with the best regular-season record - in 34 years have gone on to win the Stanley Cup, the last in 2013. More Presidents’ Trophy winners have lost in the first round (5) than won the Cup the L20 years.
THE 'A'-LIST: The Oakland Athletics are 28-3 in their last 31 games against the Tigers, including 16-1 in the last 17 games in Detroit. After today, they will meet again in Oakland for the final two games of the series in July.
Starters who shut out his opponent in the last meeting and are the home fav, those teams are 22-7 (75.9%). In these games, a run is scored in the 1st inning 72.4% of the time, and the home favorite is 23-3-3 (88.5%) in the 1st 5 innings
MAY FLOWERS: Texas hurler Martin Perez is 7-0 in his last seven team starts in May.His opponent, Oakland Frankie Montas, is 0-7 in his last seven team starts in May.With Perez 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.91 WHIP away this season, the seed has been planted.