Tigers crossing fingers with Zimmermann
His velocity has been down, his health has been erratic, and his last start was a wreck, but the Tigers opted for Jordan Zimmermann's experience Saturday night as they met the Braves at Turner Field with a Tigers playoff ticket temptingly close.
Zimmermann has had all manner of neck issues since spring after he began with an astounding April that quickly withered. But the Tigers right-hander was a star with the Nationals in the same division as the Braves, has pitched plenty against Atlanta, and has playoff experience, all of which became, in manager Brad Ausmus' mind, the best of few options as the Tigers made a bid for their fourth consecutive victory.