Detroit Tigers: Rotation same, Rondon wont change, Verlander booed

The Detroit Tigers are awash in problems. So many that they don’t even know where to start.

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Two big problems are Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon at the back end of the rotation. Without a reliable option in reserve, they have to keep going forward and take each blowout.

Another problem is Bruce Rondon who, after an encouraging couple of outings following his callup from Toledo, has been completely unreliable. Join the club.

Finally, all the hope that Justin Verlander had turned a corner in his final start before the All-Star break was blown apart by Baltimore bats on Sunday. Upon his exit he received something he was not used to: booing.

Detroit Tigers make no changes to rotation, Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene will start against Mariners – James Schmehl, MLive

"Simon will start the series opener Monday, and Greene is scheduled for Tuesday.Prior to Saturday, Ausmus was seemingly reluctant to name the starting pitchers for their upcoming series, leading some to speculate that Simon or Greene could be bumped from the rotation. Ausmus dismissed any such speculation Saturday.“(Simon and Greene) knew,” Ausmus said. “We just hadn’t told the Mariners yet. That’s why we didn’t tell you.”"

Tigers’ Ausmus: Rondon doesn’t need to ‘dial it back’– George Sipple, Detroit Free Press

"Sunday’s outing lowered Rondon’s ERA from 10.57 to 9.35 in 11 games. He has allowed 13 hits, three walks and nine runs in 82/3 innings with 14 strikeouts.“People love the radar guns, but when you stand in the batter’s box, not all 95 (m.p.h. fastballs) are created equal,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday morning. “Some 95s look like 97s. Some look like 95s and some look like 92. Usually has to do with their delivery or how quickly the hitter picks the ball up or how much life the ball has on it.”"

Justin Verlander rocked for seven runs, leaves game to smattering of boos – Chris Iott, MLive

"As Verlander headed toward the dugout, some of the fans in attendance at Comerica Park booed him. It certainly was not a majority of fans, and it seemed that many in the crowd cheered Verlander in an attempt to drown out the boos.But it was still a bit unusual to see a former Cy Young and Most Valuable Player award winner booed on his home field."

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