Detroit Tigers Turn to Justin Verlander in Crucial Contest Tuesday

Detroit Tigers fans will see Justin Verlander start at home for the final time in the regular season on Tuesday. It is another must-win game for the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander will take the hill Tuesday in what is a must-win game for the Tigers.

Well, at this point every game is a must-win, but Detroit needs a win all the same on Tuesday night.

The team fell to two games back of Baltimore in the race for the second American League Wild Card. With the Orioles beginning a series with the Wild-Card leading Blue Jays, there’s certainly the opportunity to make up some late ground.

It is possible that Tuesday’s opponent, Cleveland, could rest a number of regular with the division title wrapped up.

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However, regardless of how Detroit’s rivals stack up, Justin Verlander will be taking the mound for the Tigers.

In what is one of, if not the most important game of the season, the Tigers will turn to their longtime ace.

During a season that has seen a number of young pitchers thrive for Brad Ausmus’ team, Verlander has been consistently excellent. The former MVP winner leads the starting staff in just about every major pitching category.

It isn’t just the Tigers where Verlander is leading the way. The veteran leads the American League in strikeouts and ranks in the top ten in a plethora of different categories.

Those categories include WHIP (second), strikeouts per nine innings (third), SIERA (sixth), WAR (seventh), swinging strike percentage (seventh), ERA (eighth), wins (eighth) and FIP (10^th).

Verlander will look to continue his excellent form against Cleveland after turning in a dominant outing against the club just 10 days prior to Tuesday’s start.

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In seven shutout innings, the 33-year-old flirted with a no-hitter while striking out seven. Despite four walks, Verlander collected 15 swinging strikes en route to shutting out Cleveland.

Tuesday’s Opposition

The Tigers will go up against a starting pitcher in Mike Clevinger who owns a 5.08 ERA as a member of the rotation. The rookie’s 5.10 xFIP and 5.13 SIERA don’t look much better either.

What’s more, Justin Verlander has put up more swinging strikes in his last six starts than Clevinger has all season.

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Over his last four starts, the 25-year-old hasn’t eclipsed the five-inning mark. Clevinger was previously in the bullpen, and is in the midst of being stretched out to pitch in the rotation. That should benefit the Tigers offense come Tuesday night.