Boston — Among tasks Brad Ausmus handled early Sunday, well before the Tigers and Red Sox had an evening rematch at Fenway Park, was an intelligence request for the Tigers’ analytical sleuths at Comerica Park.
He wanted data fed into their computers that might explain why Justin Verlander throws so many pitches that are fouled off.
It’s a problem, of course, for the Tigers, and for Verlander, who expects to pitch deeply into games. But his last two starts have included 39-pitch innings and early exits.
The situation turned borderline fiendish in Saturday night’s 11-3 loss, in which the Red Sox spent much of their night deflecting Verlander’s pitches into Fenway’s seats.