The Detroit Tigers have jumped out to an early three game lead in the American League Central, but not through the way you might have expected.
Detroit, which possesses one of the most potent offenses in baseball, ranks just eighth out of 14 teams in the AL in runs scored, at 4.83 per game. Yet the Tigers sit at the top of their division thanks to the stellar play from their pitching staff.
The Detroit pitchers have allowed fewer runs than every AL team except Seattle, boasting a 4.07 ERA. While young starters Edwin Jackson (6-3, 2.24 ERA) and Rick Porcello (7-4, 3.71) have a large hand in that, Justin Verlander has been nearly untouchable.
After losing two of his first three outings with an atrocious 7.88 ERA, Verlander (7-2, 3.02) has won seven of his last nine starts, sporting a miniscule 1.24 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.
Verlander’s success has stemmed from his fastball, which he is throwing on average at a blazing 95.5 mph, nearly two mph faster than last season. The combination of his blistering fastball along with the devastating movement and drop off of velocity from his 80 mph curveball has Verlander pitching as well as anyone in the game. This deadly combination has hitters constantly guessing, as evidenced by his opponent’s microscopic .223 batting average when the righty takes the mound.
Verlander has been especially effective this season at striking out nearly everyone who steps in the batter’s box. He currently leads the league in strikeouts (106), averaging just over 11 per nine innings. In fact, at Verlander’s current pace, he would have struck out nearly 84 more batters than last season.
Even more impressive has been Verlander’s command this season. The Tigers’ ace has walked a career-low 2.61 batters per nine innings this year, and ranks eighth in the majors with a 4.24 K/BB ratio.
These results are great news to Detroit fans, who watched Verlander struggle with an 11-17 record in 2008 after breaking onto the scene with a 35-15 mark over the course of his first two full seasons in the majors.
If the Tigers hope to claim a wide open AL Central, their hitters must step up, otherwise Verlander will be counted on to maintain his mind-boggling pace to lead Detroit back to the playoffs.
— Zach Davis is the Sports Editor and a senior majoring in communication.
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