Sports

Tigers pitching makes them World Series favorites

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SAN FRANCISCO — If good pitching negates good hitting, then what is to be made of outstanding pitching versus pedestrian hitting?

Going into tonight’s Game 1 of the 108th World Series between the Tigers and Giants at AT&T Park, the starting pitching edge belongs to the AL champion Tigers based on how they smothered the Yankees’ bats in a four-game ALCS sweep as the Yankees batted an embarrassing .157.

That’s not to say the Giants’ arms are weak, but from the beginning, the Tigers have the edge because they give the ball to Justin Verlander, who Mark Teixeira has called the “best pitcher on the planet.’’

Verlander, who hasn’t pitched since Oct. 16 when he handled the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS despite not being sharp, is opposed by Barry Zito, a bust for the Giants who delivered a sizzling performance in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Cardinals. Zito’s effort triggered a three-game winning streak that carried the Giants to their second World Series appearance in three years.

“I believe in God and he has a plan all the time,’’ said Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong.”Outside of that it started with Barry in Game 5.’’

Zito’s story is compelling because, two years ago, Giants manager Bruce Bochy left him off the postseason roster for all three series.

Still, it’s impossible to ignore how well Verlander has pitched in this second season. In three postseason games, Verlander is 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA. He was 17-8 with a 2.64 ERA during the regular season and led the majors with 239 strikeouts and 238 2/3 innings.

Verlander has faced only four Giant hitters, but it’s worth noting Marco Scutaro, the NLCS MVP, is 5-for-23 (.217) against the Tigers’ ace.

The left-handed Zito, who blanked the Cardinals across 7 2/3 innings in Game 5, struggled against the Reds in Game 4 of the NLDS, lasting 2 2/3 innings. He is in the sixth season of a seven-year deal worth $126 million. Zito went 15-8 during the regular season in what was his best year since he moved across the bay from Oakland following the 2006 season.

“To look at the whole story and everything else really doesn’t help me because I have a routine I have to stick to,’’ Zito said. “This is a more exciting opportunity than most.’’

Of the four Tigers who have significant at-bats against Zito, none has been successful. Prince Fielder is 3-for-18 (.167), Omar Infante 3-for-20 (.150), Gerald Laird 3-for-15 (.200) and Jhonny Peralta 3-for-14 (.214).

Late in the season it wasn’t out of the question to believe the Tigers wouldn’t qualify for the postseason. The White Sox were leading the AL Central and the Tigers weren’t going to grab one of the league’s two wild-card spots. Tonight they are four wins away from winning the World Series and heavily favored (-$175) to do so.

“I don’t want to use [favorite] because you have to give credit to the San Francisco Giants,’’ said Cabrera, the Triple Crown winner and leading candidate for AL MVP who is batting a pedestrian .278 with a homer and five RBIs in nine postseason games. “Our season was up and down, but we have done what we had to do.’’

Peralta said what a lot of people believed true in the final 10 days of the regular season.

“Our season was unbelievable this year,” the shortstop said. “Chicago was supposed to be in the playoffs and we came back and we are in the World Series.’’

Right-hander Max Scherzer said a team that won 88 games during the regular season got going when it mattered the most.

“We always knew we had a really good team,’’ Scherzer said. “It was an up-and-down season, but we are playing our best baseball in October. Hopefully, we can get four more wins.’’

george.king@nypost.com