Justin Verlander is a viable MVP candidate this season. But that’s not what’s important when he takes the mound in Minnesota today for what could be his last start of the year.
Verlander and his teammates are only one game up on the Chicago White Sox with five games remaining. With neither team taking control of this division race, the Tigers ace needs to come out and do what he does best: win.
Verlander (16-8, 2.72 ERA) is set to match up against the Twins P.J. Walters, who is 2-4 with a 5.88 ERA this season. And while the numbers look to be clearly in the Tigers favor, Walters is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against Detroit this season.
The Tigers couldn’t get the bats going last night in Minneapolis. If that’s the case again today, they’ll need Verlander to come up big.
First pitch is at 4:05.
The White Sox are in action against the Tampa Bay Rays today in Chicago with the first pitch of that game also scheduled for 4:05.
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