Detroit Tigers Playoff Links: Davis injury delays roster, JV #2, Five Q’s for O’s-Tigs

Our playoff links for today takes us to two articles from the Detroit Tigers’ crack MLive beat writer, James Schmehl where he talks playoff roster, specifically how Rajai Davis‘ injury is forcing the Tigers to hold up their roster to see if he can contribute in the ALDS.

He also talks about Brad Ausmus‘ choice of Justin Verlander to start the key second game of the short series. A lot of Tigers’ fans seemed annoyed by this, saying David Price should start Game 2. I guess they forgot how sharp Verlander was his last three starts and last October.

FInally, ESPN looks at five questions for the Tigers and Orioles matchup.

Uncertainty surrounding Rajai Davis’ injury leaves Detroit Tigers’ playoff roster in limbo – James Schmehl, MLive

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"Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters Tuesday he will wait to finalize his 25-man roster for the ALDS until he gets a better idea about the status of Davis.“At this point Rajai said he feels better,” Ausmus said during a pre-workout press conference. “But we’re still unsure how he’s gonna feel come Thursday.”"

Detroit Tigers’ Brad Ausmus explains decision to start Justin Verlander over David Price for Game 2 – Schemel

"Despite a disappointing 2014 campaign, Verlander allowed just one run and didn’t walk a batter in each of his last two regular-season starts. Couple his strong finish with Verlander’s playoff success, and Ausmus decided to give him Friday’s start.“It seemed like it came together at the end of the season for me, the last couple starts,” Verlander said. “Hopefully, I just keep riding that momentum and keep that going into the postseason.”"

Five questions for Tigers-O’s series – Tim Kurkjian, ESPN

"Can the Detroit rotation be beaten? The three American League Cy Young winners from the past three seasons, Max Scherzer, David Price and Justin Verlander, will start the first three games of a playoff series: That will be a first in baseball history. Scherzer had another terrific season, and Price won Game No. 162 to secure the AL Central title for the Tigers. Verlander will be the key, not just in this series but perhaps in the entire postseason. If he can be the Verlander of old, or at least something close, the Tigers will certainly have the best rotation in the American League in the playoffs. Verlander is 7-5 with a 3.28 ERA in the postseason in his career, and he is 4-0 with a 1.79 ERA in the division series. In his last two starts this season, he threw 15 1/3 innings, allowed two earned runs, walked none and struck out 10, his two best back-to-back starts of the season. His velocity was better, and his command was much better. He looked a lot like Verlander, not like the guy who has been hit very hard, and has been wild, this year, recording a 4.54 ERA. “He’s not throwing 100 in the ninth anymore,” one scout said. “But he is still Verlander.”"