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Detroit Tigers: Verlander sim game, All-Star voting, Kaline’s last day

By Dave Holcomb

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The injuries continue to pile up for the Detroit Tigers, but one of their best starting pitchers is inching closer to his return.

Right-hander Justin Verlander threw his first simulated game since April, and it was a success. Actually, it was even a little fun as the Tigers even simulated rookie Dixon Machado registering his first major league hit during the simulated game.

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Personally, it’s still too early to vote for the All-Star Team, but voting has commenced, and it is hard to argue with some of the results.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera leads all American League first baseman in voting. He is also third overall in the AL behind only Royals Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez.

Cabrera is hitting .341/.442/.605 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI and 26 runs in 167 at-bats this season. He even has one triple.

The Detroit first baseman is the only Tigers player who currently leads his position in votes, but Jose Iglesias is second at shortstop. Meanwhile, second baseman Ian Kinsler is third and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is fifth, but remember, the top three outfielders in votes get the starting spots.

Outfielder Al Kaline sure went to his fair share of All-Star Games during his 22-year career, but he does have one regret from his playing days that he shared with The Detroit News.

Justin Verlander’s simulated game a success; rehab start next? – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"Verlander threw 70 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. He faced Bryan Holaday, Tyler Collins, Hernan Perez and rookie Dixon Machado and his pitching line looked like this: Two hits, one walk, eight strikeouts.Manager Brad Ausmus said the finish on his fastball and the break on his breaking pitches is what stood out.The true test will come with how he feels this morning."

Miguel Cabrera leads AL first basemen in All-Star voting; Jose Iglesias ranks second among shortstops – James Schmehl, MLive.com

"As of Tuesday, Cabrera is the only Tigers player in line to be named to the AL’s starting lineup. Five Royals players are in line for starting spots, while three other Royals currently sit in second. Among those in line for a starting spot is Alcides Escobar, who leads Jose Iglesias by about 365,000 votes at shortstop.Iglesias ranks first among shortstops in the AL with a .333 batting average, but has missed the past three games with a contusion in his left knee. He’s listed day to day, but it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to return to the starting lineup.“I think it’s too early to say if he’s an All-Star or not,” Ausmus said of Iglesias. “If he can get back healthy and play out the first half the way he played the first two months, I would think it’d be a very viable possibility.”"

399: Kaline’s last day short of history, long on regret – Lynn Henning, The Detroit News

"There is no chance Kaline and baseball’s world would be unaware that, with one more home run, a Tigers superstar could become the first American League player with 3,000 hits and 400 home runs, as was the case in 1974, when Kaline retired.There is even less chance the Tigers outfielder would leave his final game after the third inning and two at-bats. There is no way Kaline would, or could, excuse himself from posterity. From being the first Tigers player to hit 400 home runs, an honor secured last weekend in St. Louis when Miguel Cabrera hit No. 400 against the Cardinals.But history was brushed aside that last day he played in the big leagues, Oct. 2, 1974, at Tiger Stadium."

Next: Detroit Tigers Out-Duel Oakland A's in, 1-0, victory

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