Detroit Tigers stay in the Race

Max Scherzer has been on fire this season for the Detroit Tigers.  He raised his record to 9-2 in defeating the Cleveland Indians recently.    Between him and Justin Verlander the Tigers have one of the best combinations in all of Major League Baseball in 2011. 

The Tigers have been trading places with the Cleveland Indians over the past week with each being in 1st place for a day and then falling behind.   The Indians have been the surprise of the Central Division of the American League so far in 2011. 

The Tigers are now on a west coast swing with 6 games on the road.   The Tigers lost the first two games in Colorado against the Rockies before sending their ace to the mound on Sunday.   Justin Verlander pitched another complete game in the 9-1 victory over the Rockies to raise his record to 9-3.   They now head to face the Los Angeles Dodgers for a quick 3 game series to continue the inter-league play.  

The Tigers will face the ace of the Dodgers staff Clayton Kershaw (Great Lakes Loons 2007) in the first game against Brad Penny.  The Dodgers are struggling this season being several games below the .500 mark.

The Tigers will return home to have two more series against National League opponents facing the Arizona Diamondbacks and then the New York Mets.   Both of those series with have local connections for us here in Michigan.   Kirk Gibson is the manager of the Diamondbacks and Alan Trammel his bench coach.    The New York Mets will bring Midland native Terry Collins back to Comerica Park again.   It will be interesting for their fans to see these natives back in Michigan.