The less said about yesterday’s game, the better.

That’s not true. Verlander was incredible; he has re-established himself as the ace of the staff, with better stuff than we have seen from him in 3 years. The scene on the mound where Brad went out and Justin held his ground was priceless. Verlander said that as soon as Brad walked out to the mound without signaling he knew he was going to be able to hold the mound. This is good stuff we are seeing from JV this season; let’s appreciate it.

Tonight we get Pelfrey.

Tonight’s Not Entirely Serious Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Don Kelly, 1B
4. Don Kelly, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Aviles, RF
9. Iglesias, SS

Looking forward to watching JV dominate this afternoon. Got the game on in the office. Let’s go Tigers.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Mike Aviles, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

I’ll go ahead and jinx it, the Tigers have yet to lose to the Twins this year.

I could recap Sanchez’s recent starts, but it wouldn’t be pretty. The guy the Twins are throwing out there, Tommy Milone, hasn’t been much better. Maybe Cabrera sprinkles in an XBH tonight?

Baseball-Reference game preview here.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Mike Aviles, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Good series over the weekend, the walk-off was a nice touch.

Bad news is the probables are: Boyd and Sanchez the next two games. Zimmermann and Norris still need a little more time. No timeline on J.D. either.

Good news is that the AL basement dwellers, the Twins, are in town.

Baseball-Reference game preview here.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Mike Aviles, RF

8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

We got Pelfreyed yesterday; just one of those games.

Ace-in-Waiting Mike Fulmer takes the mound in the rubber game of the series, facing the Human Suspension. Justin Upton returns, which earns Meandering Moya a trip back to Toledo, and is my pick for first player plunked by a Ventura pitch.

Today’s Ventura Highway Lineup:

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

The home field magic continues, and the Tigers started the second half (which is much less than half, if you must quibble) on a strong note, as Justin Verlander threw 7 strong, with only 4 hits and 2 walks against 10 strikeouts. There was a time a few years ago where there was an ongoing discussion here about whether or not Verlander was an “ace” (whatever that means); 2013-2014 saw him with ERA/WHIP numbers of 3.36 / 1.315 and 4.54 / 1.398 (that 3.36 is pretty lucky with a 1.315 WHIP), and guys like Max Scherzer and even Anibal Sanchez (!) looked better. But here we are now with Justin Verlander looking once again like the ace of the staff.

He could have easily had a shutout, If Moya were an actual, you know, outfielder. He really does look awful out there. JD Martinez can’t return soon enough. And Moya isn’t really making up for it with his bat any more: since June 30 he is 3-for-26 with 15 strikeouts (eat your heart out, Upton). He is starting to look a little Hessman-ish.

Pelfrey again looks like he gets the short end of the run-support straw: the Tigers have career numbers against Danny Duffy ranging from mediocre to sub-Mendoza. Kinsler, 3-for-20? Cabrera 6-for-24? (and slumping).

Today’s Duff Luck Lineup:

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

Welcome back from the break everyone. Maybe I’m just becoming increasingly curmudgeonly, but every year I become less and less interested in the All Star game. The Home Run Derby is actually more fun to watch than the game. Maybe that’s just me.

The Tigers will be coming back from the break without Justin Upton, who has been placed on the bereavement list (which means he is out for a minimum of 3 and maximum of 7 games). To replace Upton, the Tigers have called up The Finger, Tyler Collins.

One thing the Tigers have to look forward to in the 2nd half (besides, hopefully, the return of JD Martinez): home games. The Tigers had the league’s most imbalanced home/road ratio in the first half, with only 39 games at home and 50 on the road, leaving them with 43 home games after the break.

Home – Road splits:

• .590  23W 16L Home
• .460  23W 27L Road

If the Tigers continue winning home and road games at the same pace as they did before the break, they would finish with an 86-win season.

Today’s Welcome Back from Break Lineup:

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

Player of the Game prediction: Ian Kinsler, rested and possibly motivated by an All-Star snub, faces Ian Kennedy, who he is 6-for-9 lifetime against.

We desperately needed that start from Boyd yesterday. I felt that  Ausmus used him perfectly. The bullpen was good enough as Rondon got an undeserved win. Would be nice to see the pen give us a scoreless effort today. We’ll need it.

Cabrera is in a massive slump. He’ll come out of it.

Even after my reminder yesterday I forgot about the early start. Let’s get to the break on a winning streak.

Well, bullpen happened.

Not a good outing by JV either. I don’t get pulling JV for Greene in the bottom of the 6th. Though I don’t get a lot of what Ausmus does. Winning last night would have been a gift, with all of the trouble the pitchers were in last night.

The Blue Jays have won six in a row now. The dreaded Pelfrey/TBD/TBD trio on the mound the next three games. Remember, Saturday is an afternoon slot.

Baseball-Reference Game Preview here.

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. CF Cameron Maybin

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera

4. DH Victor Martinez

5. 3B Nick Castellanos

6. LF Justin Upton

7. C James McCann

8. RF Mike Aviles

9. SS Jose Iglesias

Well, if you’re gonna lose 2/3 and 11 in a row, a 12-2 drubbing is a good way to go out. Certainly lessened the blow.

Baseball-Reference game preview here.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Steven Moya, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Well, that went about as well as we expected.

0-11.

Mr. Fulmer, stop this madness!

Today’s One More Chance Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Maybin, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Upton, RF
7. Moya, LF
8. Saltalamacchia, C
9. Iglesias, SS