The Tigers are Gearing Up for a World Series Run

All Verlander has done all season is become one of the best pitchers in
the game. Verlander’s record is 23-5 and he is closing in on baseball’s
triple crown for pitching as he leads The American League in wins,
strikeouts (238), and earned run average (2.36). Verlander will more
than likely win The AL Cy Young Award this season as well as pitch Game 1
of The American League Division Series for Detroit.

Verlander has pitched at least six innings in every start this season
which is appreciated by the bullpen. The Tigers do have relief in the
bullpen in the form of closer Jose Valverde. Valverde is 43/43 in save
chances this season and his electric fastball can make the best hitters
look like little leaguers. The combination of middle relievers Daniel
Schlereth and Joaquin Benoit have solidified the seventh and eight
innings as the duo has combined for 34 holds before turning things over
to Valverde.

The key for Detroit is someone else besides Verlander in the starting
rotation needs to  provide a solid effort. Verlander can only pitch
twice maybe three times in a playoff series depending of how far The
Tigers go. Right-hander Rick Porcello has started to shake off the
inconsistency that plagued him during the first half off the season. In
his last four starts, Porcello has given The Tigers four solid outings
by pitching at least six innings in those games. In those outings The
Tigers have won all four games with Porcello picking up the win in three
of those games. The Tigers will also need more consistency from
right-hander Max Scherzer. Scherzer has been up and down with an earned
run average that has remained above four for the majority of the season.

Miguel Cabrera is having a typical season which finds him in the top ten
for home runs (26), runs batted in (97), and batting average (.332).
Cabrera is not doing it by himself this year as catcher Victor Martinez
has provided protection for him in the lineup as Martinez is hitting
(.324). Going into the postseason The Tigers will need a better
offensive output from center fielder Austin Jackson. Jackson burst onto
the scene in 2010 as he had a batting average of .293 and finished
second in the voting for The American League Rookie of The Year.
Jackson’s average has hovered around .250 for the season, but he has 11
triples this season. Going forward it will be key for Jackson to get on
base as he is a threat to steal bases and he can put more pressure on
opposing pitchers who are trying to pitch to Cabrera and Martinez.

Manager Jim Leyland is a winner as he is doing his magic again.
Leyland’s teams in Pittsburgh fell just short of The World Series in the
early 90’s. Leyland won it all with The Florida Marlins in 1997 and
took The Tigers to The World Series in 2006. Leyland’s Tigers were the
best team in The American League in 2006 until they limped to the finish
line. They made it as a wild card and ran through The New York Yankees
and Oakland Athletics.
This Tiger team can do the same if not better. They have separated
themselves from The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians and now it
is just a matter of time before they can clinch the division.
Verlander’s season ranks up there with great Tiger pitchers such as
Denny McLain and Jack Morris who both helped The Tigers win The World
Series.