Detroit Tigers, 48-44, 2 1/2 games behind Chicago.
Doug Fister had his best start of the season, and after two good starts in a row he looks like the Fister from the 2011 pennant run. Fister gave up a solo HR to Albert Pujols in the 1st, and only allowed a single and 2 walks after that, until he was pulled in the 9th at 108 pitches. Fister struck out 10, which hopefully won’t trigger Leyland’s Too Many Strikeouts response.
Leyland said after the game that he originally was going to give Fister a shot at the complete game, but that Fister felt a little bit stiff so it wasn’t worth the risk (also, as Jeff Molby pointed out last night he hadn’t gone beyond 96 pitches since his injury).
Brennan Boesch continues to bash, adding 2 doubles last night to his home run the night before. Since the break, Boesch is leading the Tigers with a 1.149 OPS, and also leading the team with 7 RBI.
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Today the Tigers look to go 2-for-2 in post-break series, and send out Max Scherzer vs Angels right-hander Jerome Williams. Scherzer had one of his Bad Max outings last out (4 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings); Williams is making his 2nd start since an asthma attack landed him in the hospital.
The Tigers are also going with Danny Worth again at 2B, instead of the usual Santiago platoon. It may be the Tigers want to take an extended look at Worth (or give someone else one) before making a move.
The popular rumor of the moment has the Tigers re-acquiring 2B Omar Infante, which makes a lot of sense. Not only is Infante an ex-Tiger, but he is a Marlin, and you know how that is. At any rate the Tigers are supposedly the team most likely to make a deadline deal.
Stat of the Day: Prince Fielder leads the Tigers with an On Base Percentage of an even .500 since the break.
Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Brennan Boesch. Boesch is in a groove right now. With Cabrera and Fielder getting on base regularly in front of him, Boesch adds to his RBI total (as long as Delmon can avoid the GIDP).
Today’s Let’s-See-What-Danny’s-Worth Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Quintin Berry LF
- Miguel Cabrera 3B
- Prince Fielder 1B
- Delmon Young DH
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Alex Avila C
- Danny Worth 2B
Really pumped about today’s game. I’d love to go into the weekend with a chance to take over 1st place.
Standing O for Scherzer.
Thought the Tigers would take 2 out of 4 from the Angels, but they did that and took another as a bonus. Expect them to take 2 from the cws this weekend. Bless you boys!
We took 3-of-4 without Verlander, and get to lead off the Sox series with the Ace. Good time to get hot. And Danny Worth is making the 2B mix even more complicated.
As Kelly and Raburn continue to keep the bench situation complicated as well.
(wrong post) Cody Ross with a walk off HR for the Red Sox…1.5 games back.
In the three games the WS lost in BOS, they only scored 1 run in each. We might be playing them at a good time.
lets keep it going boys””and lets give Worth just a fraction of the chances given Rayburn—I will still bet anyone he can get more than 10 RBI in a half a season. Besides being the best infielder on the Roster…