The Detroit Tigers are looking to get a step closer to locking up the A.L. Central. They play the Minnesota Twins and you can watch the game, free online, as MLB.TV brings all the action at no cost. With a win, the Tigers can slash their elimination game to just one. Do not miss the live coverage.
The Tigers will send their ace of the past to the mound. A 13-12 Justin Verlander with a 3.66 ERA is not what the Tigers consider an ace, especially with Max Scherzer's dominance this season. Also not a good sign, the Tigers have only one win in his last seven starts. Not all of it has been Verlander's fault, but his only victory in seven games came against the Kansas City Royals.
In his last start, Verlander went seven innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks while recording six strikeouts. His strikeout total has taken a hit as the right has yet to break 200K's in 2013. Compared to last season, his ERA is up 1.02 and he has four more losses and four less wins in 2013.
The Tigers will be opposed by right-hander, Mike Pelfrey, who has struggled transitioning into a starter role in the American League. He is 5-13 with a 5.34 ERA in 28 starts this season with the Twins. Pelfrey has lost six consecutive starts and has not won a decision since Aug. 20, ironically, against these very same Tigers. In that outing, he went 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out two. However, in his last two starts, Pelfrey could not get past get past the fifth inning. He's totaled 7.1 innings, while allowing 17 hits, 10 earned runs with two walks and eight strikeouts.
The Twins are long gone from competing, but they would like to avoid having their division rival get closer to clinching a division title.