Tonight begins the Anibal Sanchez World Domination Comeback Tour.

Meanwhile I am trying to understand Ian Kinsler’s contract. I know the Tigers have a club option next season for $10 million (which is very reasonable and affordable), and a buy out for $5 million, which means they could dump him for half that. But I read somewhere—which I can’t find now—that he has a contract option that vests with 600 at bats. Is it the club option? Or something else? Anyone know anything about this? If there is some kind of vesting like that it is to somebody’s advantage that he play every day.

Oh there it is, from Ken Rosenthal: “Small detail on Kinsler, per sources: $10M option for 2018 vests at 600 PAs. Currently at 513. #Tigers likely to exercise if he falls short.”

Hmm.

Justin Verlander makes his Astros debut tonight, and it’s on MLB Network.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Mikie Mahtook LF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. James McCann C
5. John Hicks 1B
6. Jaime Candelario 3B
7. Alex Presley RF
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Anibal Sanchez vs Jason Vargas

Yes, we are at the part of the season where James McCann is batting cleanup.

Meanwhile, Dixon Machado is getting better and better at the sunflower seed thing.

Yes, Brad is still trotting out Everyday Ian in the leadoff spot every game, while Dixon Machado munches sunflower seeds in the dugout.

Meanwhile, the Artie Lewicki era begins.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley  RF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. Efren Navarro, 1B
5. James McCann C
6. Jaime Candelario 3B
7. Mikie Mahtook CF
8. Andrew Romine LF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Artie Lewicki vs Jakob Junis

Chad Bell gets his first major league start.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, DH
2. Alex Presley RF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. John Hicks, 1B
5. Mikie Mahtook LF
6. Jaime Candelario 3B
7. James McCann C
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Chad Bell vs Josh Tomlin

It’s Kinsler + the kitchen sink for today’s lineup.

Seeing Zimmermann’s name in the lineup reminds me: he’s one guy that’s been missing from the list of guys that should be gone next season.

Breaking: Victor Martinez is out for the rest of the season. Nick Castellanos is the every day DH.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, DH
2. Alex Presley  RF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. Efren Navarro, 1B
5. Mikie Mahtook CF
6. Jaime Candelario 3B
7. Bryan Holiday, C
8. Andre Romine LF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Corey Kluber

Since Brad Ausmus was hired, he hasn’t seemed to do all that well with the high-expectation, highly-paid team he inherited. Now he is beginning to show that he doesn’t quite know what to do with a rebuilding team. This does not bode well for his immediate future (which is not to say he won’t be a great manager at some point—he is still young and new at this managing thing).

I think a case in point is in today’s double-header lineup.  Why, at this point in the season, is a struggling Ian Kinsler playing both games of a double-header, albeit at DH? I think Dixon Machado should be playing pretty much full time now, getting a lot of starts at 2nd, some starts at 3rd, and spelling Iglesias occasionally at short.

I also don’t like Ausmus taking the bat out of JaCoby’s hands in the 9th. Why bunt there? I think statistically there your chances are a tiny bit better for tying with a successful sacrifice (but lower for winning). But c’mon, play for the win, and give JaCoby a chance in a high pressure situation. It’s what a good rebuilding team would do.

Also no reason that Miguel is playing every day. Whatever happened to his suspension protest? Hopefully the suspension will be upheld.

Meanwhile Fulmer has been shelved, and is making a visit to Dr. Andrews, to be replaced by Chad Bell. The replacement has been announced for Justin’s spot in the rotation: let the Artie Lewicki era begin!

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, DH
2. Alex Presley  RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Nick Castellanos 3B
5. Mikie Mahtook LF
6. John Hicks, C
7. Dixon Machado, SS
8. Andrew Romine, 2B
9. JaCoby Jones, CF

Pitching: Buck Farmer vs Mike Clevinger

I still haven’t processed the Justin Verlander trade, or the idea of this team without him. Justin still was must-watch baseball (and the other Justin as the only one still with must-watch at bats).

The September callups begin, some old faces, some new:  Bryan Holaday, Blaine Hardy, Jairo Labourt, Efren Navarro. Holaday, Navarro added to 40-man roster.

Also Daniel Norris and Anibal Sanchez have been taken off the DL. Almost forgot about Anibal.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley  RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, DH
4. Nick Castellanos 3B
5. Mikie Mahtook LF
6. Efren Navarro 1B
7. James McCann C
8. JaCoby Jones, CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Carlos Carrasco

Remember the good old days when we used to gripe about the getaway day lineups, with multiple starters on the bench? Doesn’t matter so much as the moment, does it? I’d just as soon see Machado as Kinsler or Hicks as Cabrera

Today’s Lineup:

1. Mikie Mahtook, RF
2. Dixon Machado, 2B
3. Justin Upton LF
4. Nick Castellanos 3B
5. James McCann C
6. John Hicks, 1B
7. JaCoby Jones, CF
8. Jose Iglesias SS
9. Justin Verlander P

Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Chad Bettis

Nick had a great day yesterday, which included his league-leading 10th triple. How is it that one of the worst baserunners in the league leads it in triples? That’s baseball, I guess.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Alex Presley RF
3. Justin Upton LF
4. Nick Castellanos 3B
5. James McCann C
6. Mikie Mahtook CF
7. John Hicks, 1B
8. Jose Iglesias SS
9. Michael Fulmer P

Pitching: Michael Fulmer vs German Marquez

Jordan Zimmermann has had a week at the ol’ drawing board. Let’s see how sketchy he looks today.

And he gets to bat too! woohoo

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Alex Presley RF
3. Justin Upton LF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Nick Castellanos 3B
6. Mikie Mahtook CF
7. James McCann C
8. Jose Iglesias SS
9. Jordan Zimmermann P

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Antonio Senzatela

Best wishes to Victor Martinez, who is back on the 10-day DL again with an irregular heartbeat.

Nick’s wrist is good enough to bat but not play 3rd (insert your own joke here), so we get to try him out at DH.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Andrew Romine 3B
3. Justin Upton LF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Nick Castellanos DH
6. Mikie Mahtook RF
7. John Hicks C
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Lucas Giolito

Well, the final score is finally in from last night’s game: Miguel Cabrera 7 games, Gary Sanchez 4 games, Alex Wilson 4 games, Austin Romine 2 games, Brad Ausmus 1 game. That seems kind of steep for Miguel, considering he whiffed on his punches, but he could use the time off anyway.

Nobody’s saying’ nuthin’ about that dugout to-do involving Victor, Casty, and Verlander. But the consensus is that the guys weren’t really thrilled that Victor seemed kind of chummy with Sanchez after the whole thing settled down, considering Sanchez sucker-punched both Miggy and Castellanos.  Just for fun here’s a bunch of people saying a bunch of stuff about the brawls.

Today is must-watch JV. We’ll see if he’s still a little amped up from all the excitement yesterday. You might want to watch with special sunglasses though—they are going to be wearing some hideously bright orange uniforms with nicknames on the back.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley RF
3. Justin Upton, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Victor Martinez, DH
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching:  Justin Verlander vs Miguel Gonzalez