Tigers elimination # is 1…

White Sox are 9 games behind the Twins.  Wow.

I’ll be at the game tonight to root for the Boys.

Bondo v. Holland in a game that really has little importance for either team, as Texas is playoff bound and our Tigers are not.  Though Texas is only 2.5 games behind Minnesota, so they could still nab the second overall playoff spot.

The Rangers are coming off of a sweep of the Yankees that included a walk-off HR, a walk-off HBP, and an absolute gem from the recently struggling Cliff Lee.  No timetable on Hamilton’s return to the lineup.

JV going for win #16 as the Tigers try to salvage a game vs. the Orioles.

Game two of a three game set at Comerica.

Go Blue.

Our Tigers come in fresh off a 3-1 series v. the Bad Guys, and welcome the struggling Orioles into town.

Kevin Millwood will arguably be the best starter the Tigers face all weekend, and his 3-15, 5.38 line is a far cry from his league leading 2.86 ERA only five years ago.  Millwood really isn’t that good anymore.  His WHIP, H/9, BB/9 and K/9 (1.55, 10.9, 1.4, 3, 6) are all well off his career averages.  He actually had three good starts in August, but overall he’s 1-7 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in his last 10 starts.  Let’s hope the boys can keep up their hot hitting.

After a rough patch in July and early August, Galarraga has been very good as of late, dare I say dominant? (though he has been suffering from a lack of run support).  He’s 1-0 in his last four with a 1.48 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.

The Orioles come in after taking 2/3 in NY and Tampa.

Tigers with a chance to take their second straight series against the Bad Guys in 2010.

First of all, props to Bondo last night.  He had his best outing of the season, striking out 8 over 8 IP, allowing only 1 run, 3 hits and 1 walk.  Of his 16 non-strike outs, 13 were ground outs.

Gavin Floyd has been pretty good all season, and even better over his last 10.  During that stretch he’s posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.57 K/9.  He was shelled in back to back starts by the Twins in mid-August, but in his other 8 games he has not allowed more than 2 runs in any game (1.54 ERA and 1.18 WHIP).

Porcello got roughed up a little last time out, giving up 4 over 7 IP in a win over KC, but had fantastic back to back starts prior to his last game.

A few quick notes:

– Tigers are 19 games over at home, and 19 games under on the road this season.  Their RS is +2 over RA, for a 70-70 X W-L.

– Tigers are 8-1 with a 1.80 ERA over their last 9 home games.

– Not surprisingly, Tigers rookies have 439 hits this season, most since 1961 (and likely will set an all-time record).

Well, the Tigers are all but mathematically out, and Cabrera and Guillen are facing their own injury issues.  But it’s still baseball.  Let’s finish strong, see if Cabby can win the MVP, and find out what we have in these young players.  Tigers are 11-7 over their last 18, and all 7 of those losses have come by one run.  Had we been 18-0, we’d only be 6 games back…goodness Minnesota is good.

Danks has been up and down all season, with more good than bad.  His last four starts have seen two quality ones, and 2 where he was hammered by each NYY and Min.

Let’s consider these last few starts a long audition for Bonderman’s spot in the 2011 rotation.

JV goes for win number 15 tonight at Comerica.

Tonight’s lineup:

Jackson CF
Rhymes 2B
Damon DH
Cabrera 1B
Kelly LF
Boesch RF
Peralta SS
Inge 3B
Avila C

Happy Labor Day everyone.

Enjoying the long weekend?

Who is your Tiger today?

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of college football and a little Tigers baseball.