This is turning out to be a strange, if not strangely exciting end to the season, as the Tigers finish out, once again, with an interleague series on the road (Detroit finished 2013 at the Marlins). That means, oh boy! the pitchers get to bat, which I guess is one advantage to having long-time NL’er Zimmermann in the rotation. Norris is no slouch though, he hit a 2-run HR last season.

The team formerly known as The Worst Team in Baseball seems to have found themselves, and is actually the hottest team in baseball–the Braves have won 10 of the last 11.

Game time for the makeup game with Cleveland is set for 1:10 Monday, if necessary, which it likely will be if Detroit takes 2-of-3. One scenario no one has mentioned: if the Tigers are eliminated from the wild card, but Cleveland is within a game of anyone for playoff seeding, the makeup game will be necessary. And quite a drag.

Daniel Norris has motored on down to Hotlanta to start this off. There’s a great little documentary on Van Norrison on YouTube, check it out:

Tonight’s Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Upton, LF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. McCann, C
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Norris, P

Victor on the bench looking for his 4th PH home run of the season. Gates Brown, eat your heart out.

I don’t think there’s an option other than to wait out the rain. Otherwise Cle would likely have to come back here on Monday.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, RF

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Nick Castellanos, 3B

8. James McCann, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Okay friends, lots to watch for tonight.

First of all, the obvious one, we’re 1 game out of the Wild Card. It’s a crowded race, there is no margin for error. 5-0 doesn’t guarantee us in, but I think that 4-1 probably gets us to at least a (first) play-in game.

Secondly, Fulmer needs 6 1/3 to qualify for the ERA title. He’s got a decent lead, it would be great for him to win it to cinch ROY.

Third, Casty is back. This is a good looking lineup.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, RF

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Nick Castellanos, 3B

8. James McCann, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

A three game skid has put us 2 games back of the WC. Still a lot of baseball left to play. We really need JV to be the ace he has come to be again and pick up 2 Ws over the last 6 games.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, RF

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Erick Aybar, 3B

8. James McCann, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Kevin is apparently undergoing concussion protocol. Let’s hope Farmer is a man out standing in his field.

That was an inopportune time for the blowpen monster to rear its ugly head, not to mention its ugly rear. It seems ol’ Frankie just didn’t have it, alternating between completely losing the strike zone and serving up batting practice. I called for him to be yanked before the home run, but in reality closets are almost never pulled; you kind of go down with the ship there.

Need to win this one.

Today’s Salty Lettuce Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Upton, LF
7. Aybar, 3B
8. Saltalamacchia, c
9. Romine, SS

This Wild Card thing is looking like a thing. Let’s hope the Van Man can keep this thing rolling.

Great outing by Fulmer last night. He is now 6.1 innings short of qualifying for the ERA title. Could that explain leaving him in longer than we thought last night?

Today’s Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Upton, LF
7. McCann, C
8. Romine, 3B
9. Iglesias, SS

The Tigers are back home, and yet probably feeling a bit homesick, as they leave Sweeptown. How about that? The Tigers did what they needed to do, and now the Wild Card is a thing again.

Hopefully vintage Fulmer shows up tonight, and not the recent version, which may have been a blip, or may have been a rookie arm boarding the fatigue boat.

KC sends out Cy Duffy tonight, who has stymied Kinsler (.208, but welcome back!), Cabrera (.182), and JD (.150). Hopefully we get something from Salty (2-for-3, oh, that’s why he’s playing!), Aybar (3-for-6), and Upton (not that good, but stats do not apply to him at the moment).

Second of a day/night doubleheader. Did anyone watch? There couldn’t have been more than 1,000 people at the game.

JV’s last three games: 19 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 25 Ks, 2.37 ERA, 0-1 record. He’ll be lucky to get to 15 wins with the run support he’s been getting as of late.

Headed out and lineup isn’t out yet, someone please post.

Good win last night, picked up a game in the WC race. Tigers haven’t lost at Target Field this season (there’s the jinx).

Farmer gets his first big start of 2016, over Sanchez and Pelfrey.

V-Mart and Kins still day-to-day.

1. Cameron Maybin, CF

2. Erick Aybar, 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. J.D. Martinez, RF

5. Justin Upton, DH

6. Tyler Collins, LF

7. James McCann, C

8. Andrew Romine, 3B

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Well, the Indians showed us who’s boss. The Tigers squandered a chance to make-up ground on the Indians and fell further behind in the wild-card race. Any time you have a pitcher give up 1 hit over 7 innings, I would think the chances of winning are pretty high. Incredibly high, to be honest.

2.5 games out with 13 to play is not a good place to be.

No VMart or Kins today. No idea why not.

1. Cameron Maybin, CF
2. Jose Iglesias, SS
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. James McCann, DH
7. JaCoby Jones, 3B
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Andrew Romine, 2B

If the Tigers, and not the Indians were the ones in first place, Justin Verlander’s season would be one of the  baseball stories of the year. I don’t think any of us foresaw him having one of his best seasons ever. Many tips of the cap to JV. Unfortunately the Indians got many whiffs of the bat from the 9-headed Cy Young they sent out there yesterday, and the season continues to flicker and fade.

Today’s Go Lions Lineup:

Kinsler, 2B
Maybin, CF
Cabrera, 1B
V Martinez, DH
JD Martinez, RF
Upton, LF
Aybar, 3B
McCann, C
Iglesias, SS