Rapid Reactions: Verlander Reaches Milestone, Tigers Back to .500

Tigers 9, White Sox 3 (box)

• I’ll admit it, I considered the possibility that Justin Verlander had no-hit potential as early as the second inning. Carlos Quentin took care of that when he turned on a 3-2 fastball that JV left up in the zone. In the end it was “only” win and an eight strikeout quality start but it feels good to have Verlander on our side. His 2007 no-hitter says it isn’t completely foolish to keep the thought of another in the back of our minds until he actually surrenders a hit in any given start.

• Justin Verlander now has 1,000 career strikeouts. What does that look like? About like this:

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• Jim Leyland has referenced the “book” on Jhonny Peralta and so far that track record is exactly what the Tigers are getting. Peralta is now about dead-on his career batting average of .263 and is driving in a few runs after going 0-fer in the RBI department during spring training. He’s even mixing in a few hits up the middle and to the opposite field. Perhaps there is a member of the coaching staff that deserves some credit too…
• The Tigers are 7-3 since starting the season 3-7. Their 10-10 record is better than the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. I think we’ll all be happy with where the Tigers end up if it stays that way (and admittedly big if).