Brad Penny was daytime Bad, and surrounded by a bit of clown show defense, but the Tigers made an improbably comeback from a 7-run deficit to put the White Sox on the verge of a sweep, and an 8 1/2 game Central hill to climb.
Max Scherzer (13-8, 4.52) climbs the mound for the Tigers, auditioning for the Since-We-Can’t-Pitch-Justin-Every-Game role for the playoff rotation.
And speaking of Justin, after a rough outing by Jared Weaver he is now the pitching Triple Crown leader (thanks Kevin). Verlander has 21 wins (2nd: Sabathia 19), a 2.34 ERA (Weaver 2nd at 2.49), and 224 strikeouts (Sabathia 2nd with 211).
Mark Buehrle will be taking the mound for Chicago, and looking for a solution to the Austin Jackson problem.
Over the last week Jackson has been red-hot, hitting at a .552 pace (1.586 OPS), with more extra-base hits than strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases. For most of the season Jackson has been a weak spot in the Tiger lineup, leaving the Tigers 12th of 14 teams in hitting with the leadoff spot in the lineup, and 11th in OBP leading off games with a tepid .266 On Base Percentage. If Jackson can go into the last month of the season at even league average or above the Tiger lineup suddenly looks a lot more potent.
In case we get Bad Max on the mound today, it may be useful that the Tigers have recalled Al Alburquerque from his rehab assignment and activated him from the DL.
Player of the Pre-Game: Austin Jackson (see above).
Today’s Bring-Out-The-Broom Lineup:
- Austin Jackson, CF
- Magglio Ordonez, RF
- Delmon Young, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, 1B
- Victor Martinez, DH
- Alex Avila, C
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Ryan Raburn, 2B
- Brandon Inge, 3B
Beck is reporting that Boesch is to have season-ending surgery
Ugh, worst-case scenario. Time for Dirks to show he belongs.
Having Magglio step would be an added bonus. He has been hitting the last couple weeks.
It would be nice to get 6 good innings out of Scherzer tonight and, now that AlbKK is back, go with the 7-8-9 routine to finish off.
Kicking them when they are down. Excellent.
I feel like I’m stealing. Well, if I knew what that felt like.
A one-hitter from Max to drive the point home would also be nice.
Man, it has been nice to watch the Tigers…This is only the second full game I have watched this season. If only Indiana would broadcast Tigers games….
I like the fact that Scherzer is atill mixing his pitches rather than going to the all-fastball-pitch-to-contact bs.
Too bad they can save a few hits/runs for Cleveland!
Sorry, should be can’t, not can.
I like Andy Dirks – good things frequently happen when he is in the lineup. He should be our 4th outfielder next year.
Marte continues his audition for middle relief role in ’12.
So far, so good.
Below, on the other hand, not so much.
Did I mention that I liked Andy Dirks?
Why can’t all the games be done by Rod and Mario? It’s so lame to watch tonights game on ESPN2 and listen to such biased commentary and listen to them exclaim how great Chicago is as they are getting lambasted by the tribe. And by the way get your players names right. That was Alex Avila not A.J. going to the mound to confer with Scherzer. When is Detroit going to get the respect they deserve?
Couldn’t have had a better series against CWS (OK with the exception of Penny)… let’s hope they saved some runs for CLE – who is now the only viable threat for the AL Central.
Alburquerque did one rehab assignment and was called up, let’s hope his elbow has also healed and he returns to his first-half form – because the Tigers really need some reliable relief pitching beyond Benoit and Valverde.