In Verlander We Trust

By Ryan Dunn

CREATED Oct. 11, 2012

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After winning the first 2 games in Detroit, the A's came back in dramatic fashion to force game 5 and remind the Tigers to keep those champagne goggles in their lockers.

Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland said, "that's why this is the greatest game of all, it looked like we were going to get it. We didn't do it. We didn't quite get the 27 outs, that's part of the game. You get tested all the time in this game. And this is a good test."
 
However, the late inning collapse in game 4 didn’t seem to faze Tigers Ace Justin Verlander. “It’s obviously a big game for us,” Verlander said about tonight’s game 5. “But, like I said, this team’s been resilient. We've put ourselves in a position where we have to win just one.” Justin could only watch the late-inning circus act last night at "The O.co Coliseum" – sporting his Detroit hoodie to accompany his shorts and sandals.
 
Verlander tossed seven innings of one-run ball in Saturday's win over the A’s. He finished with 11 strikeouts and four walks. J.V. has posted an impressive career 2.38 earned run average against Oakland, while the A’s have batted just .214 against Verlander.

The lack of offense is the only thing that Tigers fans should be concerned with for game 5. We know Verlander will be Verlander, but what can we expect out of Leyland’s crew? A stronger offense than the last few games? We can only hope.
 
Tune in tonight at 9:30 pm for the winner-take-all matchup between Justin Verlander and Jarrod Parker.