OK, looks like even Nature has our number; the hoped-for rainout was not to be. As far as what happened afterward, Verlander couldn’t make it past the first inning, the new guys did what new guys do, and the pitching staff–supposedly the strong point of the team–is in full freak-out mode, though the skipper remains calm. I watched all 19 innings of the Toronto game, but couldn’t stay awake through that one.

It would seem to be time to trash the Jackson/Smyly/Price trade. Jackson was the hottest post-break hitter on the team, and the Tigers have struggled to score runs since the trade. Smyly meanwhile went out and had the Start of the Night last night, with 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball (with 9 Ks). On the other hand, with Verlander possibly injured (inflammation but not structural damage) and Sanchez out, the starting rotation is suddenly one of the team weaknesses (along with hitting and base running and fielding), and going down a playoff contention stretch you have to like Price vs. Smyly. And those of us who have been around awhile know Austin is a streaky sort (I was always skeptical of the narrative that explained Austin’s hot streak as being moved back into the leadoff spot…wasn’t his playoff hot streak explained as moving out of the leadoff spot?).  So I’m holding out on judging this trade for now.

Speaking of trades, Robby “You Got Me and Some Ham Sandwiches for Fister” Ray gets another shot at the bigs tonight, just one of many Tigers moves:

• The Tigers placed Anibal Sanchez on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 9th. Ooh. Slick move. Thought he was already DL’d.
• The Tigers recalled Blaine Hardy and Robbie Ray from Toledo
• The Tigers optioned Justin Miller to Toledo.
• The Tigers announced Buck Farmer–RHP, AA guy–barely, 2 starts out of A ball– will start Wednesday’s game (corresponding roster move to be made–somebody needs to be bumped from the 40-man roster. I am guessing Drew “Broke Back” VerHagen). I’ll admit I know little about him, but Buck Farmer is just a really good baseball name.

This is hard to explain, but the front office just pulled a good move.

You would think Hardy would not be eligible to return from Toledo yet, but you would be wrong. He can return to replace a player placed on the DL, which Anibal Sanchez just was. Yes, the Tigers announced he was going on the DL, but they didn’t actually officially DL him yet, which allowed them to bring back Hardy after 1 whole day in Toledo, since the official “cooling” time is waived to replace a player put on the DL. Score 1 for the front office.

Tonight’s Predicting-Zeke-as-POG Lineup:

1. Davis, LF
2. Carrera, CF
3. Kinsler, 2B
4. Cabrera, 3B
5. V Martinez, 1B
6. JD Martinez, RF
7. Avila, C
8. Suarez, SS
9. Ray, P

I don’t know about any of you, but I’m still exhausted from last night’s game, and the disappointing road trip as a whole. I can imagine how some of the players feel this morning.

The road trip finally comes to a close with two in Pittsburgh, the front end of an unusual 4-game home and away match up with the Pirates, as the Tigers cling to a dwindling 1/2 game lead over the red-hot Royals who have won 7 straight.

There were a whole host of moves made in the aftermath of the Sanchez/Soria injuries and burning of the bullpen arms last night:

• The Tigers officially place Soria on the 15-day disabled list (left oblique strain) retroactive to yesterday.
• The Tigers optioned the contracts of Blaine Hardy and Patrick McCoy (each of whom threw 3 innings last night) to Toledo.
• The Tigers recalled our old friends Ian Krol and Justin Miller from Toledo (well, maybe not exactly friends, especially in Krol’s case. But fresh arms).
• The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP Kevin Whelan from Toledo. Whelan, a career minor-leaguer, had a 1.85 ERA and 20 saves with the Mud Hens.
• To make room on the 40-man roster for Whelan, the Tigers released once-heralded prospect Casey Crosby.
• The Tigers announced Robby Ray will start Tuesday against Pittsburgh. Ray was originally scheduled to take the Sanchez slot in the rotation (Wednesday), but bumped up into Porcello’s spot after he finished off last night’s marathon.

Another spot on the roster has to be cleared before Ray pitches on Tuesday. If today’s game happens to get rained out (rain is in the forecast) and made up as a double-header Tuesday, Ray could be added to the roster under double-header rules without having to return any of the new call-ups to Toledo until later.

Tonight’s Pitcher-Gets-To-Bat Lineup:

1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. V Martinez, 1B
5. Hunter, RF
6. JD Martinez, LF
7. Avila, C
8. Suarez, SS
9. Verlander, P

For some reason Carrera, the only player with fresh legs on the team, starts this one on the bench. Cabrera moves over to the hot corner to keep Victor’s bat in the lineup.

The Tigers roared load and often last night, scoring in every inning but the 9th, which hasn’t happened since 1912. For a while it looked like they might get a chance to bat in the 9th also, as lefty du jour Pat McCoy made an inauspicious debut, giving up three runs without recording an out, but Phil Coke bailed him out. Starter Rick Porcello was a different story though, as he threw his 4th consecutive strong start, allowing only 7 base runners over 8 innings. With last night’s game in, Porcello has quietly taken over the team lead in ERA at 3.18.

This afternoon Anibal Sanchez is the broom man as the Tigers go for the home sweep.

The Rockies trot out yet another lefty today, Jorge De La Rosa. The Tigers sometimes struggle against lefties, but this isn’t a strategy for Colorado; it’s all they’ve got right now. This will be the 19th consecutive lefty start for them.

Tigers It Worked Last Night Let’s Try It Again Lineup:

1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Hunter, RF
6. JD Martinez, LF
7. Castellanos, 3B
8. Avila, C
9. Suarez, SS

Well, the first day of The New Tigers was a roaring success, with Rajai Davis doing a little bit of everything from the leadoff spot (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 5 putouts in center). For those comparing, Austin Jackson had an 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts and a walk leading off for Seattle.

Justin Verlander also had his best game in a very long time, spreading 8 hits out over 8 innings and only giving up 2 runs, mostly because: zero walks. He really only had one bad inning, the 7th, which was made worse by a play where Castellanos had to decide whether to go for the inning-ending double play or throw home, and made a high throw to the plate which didn’t give Holaday a very good chance at getting the out. It was a vintage-looking Verlander that finished business himself by striking out the next two batters.

One of the Tiger starters is going to end up in the bullpen for the postseason. Based on performance this season, that should be Verlander, unless he comes on strong the rest of the way. But does anybody really think that’s a possibility? I don’t. The most likely guy to draw the short straw is Rick Porcello, but he is really making that a difficult decision, as he continues compile the best season of his career. His last three starts have been stellar: while he has only come up with one win (thanks to lifeless bats and a blowpen), he has put up a 1.71 ERA and lasted 7 strong in each. He has also started adding the K to his ground ball repertoire, striking out 5 and 6 in his last 2 starts.

Tonight Porcello will benefit from a Colorado lineup that is not only missing Tulowitzki, but also Carlos Gonzalez, who re-injured an ankle making a brilliant catch of a foul ball last night.

Tonight’s Lineup–Los Nueve Tigres:

1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Hunter, RF
6. JD Martinez, LF
7. Castellanos, 3B
8. Avila, C
9. Suarez, SS

Yes, it’s the old Alex Avila vs the lefty saga again tonight (and probably tomorrow). But until StorminNorman$ pointed it out in a comment last night, I didn’t realize that Avila is actually holding his own against lefties compared to Holaday:

• .185 BA .456 OPS Holaday
• .205 BA .535 OPS Avila

Hmm, who knew? I have a theory why the perception is so different: Avila has 32 strikeouts vs 3 walks in only 84 plate appearances. So there is making outs, and there is making outs haplessly flailing at strike three. Still, The numbers say that playing Holaday against lefties may not be the upgrade it seems.

Colorado Rockies (44-64) at Detroit Tigers (58-47)

Schedule and projected starters:

• Fri 8/1   7:08   Justin Verlander vs Franklin Morales (L)
• Sat 8/2  7:08   Rick Porcello vs Tyler Matzek (L)
• Sun 8/3 1:08  Anibal Sanchez vs Jorge De La Rosa (L)

Yes, you saw correctly. An entire series facing lefties, so it may be a while before we see either of the new faces, David Price (who should start Tuesday in New York), or left-handed hitting centerfielder

Ezequiel Carrera, who was called up from Toledo to take Austin Jackson’s spot on the roster. Dave Dombrowski said that Carrera and Rajai Davis will “share” centerfield, though whether it will be a left-right type of platoon or some other arrangement will have to be seen. Don’t be surprised to see Carrera introduced as a pinch-runner: he has already stolen 43 bases at Toledo.

Tonight’s Lineup:

1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Hunter, RF
6. JD Martinez, LF
7. Castellanos, 3B
8. Holaday, C
9. Suarez, SS

Davis will try to match Austin Jackson’s recent success in the leadoff spot. Even more interesting will be to see how he does handling the centerfield duties. The Tigers’ pitchers gets a little bit of a break with the Rockies lineup, with Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day DL.