Here’s an understatement for you: Justin Verlander did not have a good outing in his last start. He was historically bad, in fact, allowing a career-high nine runs to the Cleveland Indians in a better-if-you-didn’t-watch-it 13-6 loss. That the Tigers still somehow won the series speaks to the level of talent they now have around Verlander in the starting rotation. Guys like Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd might be inexperienced, but they are talented.
Teams still need a stopper sometimes, though. The Tigers are currently on a three-game losing streak after the series from hell in Tampa.