Mother Nature Forces Tigers to Shuffle Rotation

Texas - Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have gone through this procedure Matches rain before, but the solutions more difficult and the consequences more intriguing this time around.

Verlander threw a 82 pitch in his ALCS Game 1 loss at Texas on Saturday before rain ended the two delays it at night, the second consecutive series likely Cy Young AL Award winner was his first start of the short cicuited elements.

"I threw a 25 pitch," Verlander said suspended Game 1 Division Series in New York. "It's a little different."

This means that the Tigers manager Jim Leyland and his staff will have to consider whether it is reasonable and / or beneficial to bring back to Verlander Game 4 on Wednesday to rest for three days, or stick to the original plan was that he planned for Game 5 on Thursday.

In fact, the discussion started during a rain delay, Leyland said.

"We started to map things," he said after the game. "We're not trying to hide anything. We just have not figured it all."

Other complex part of the solution was that Rick Porcello, scheduled for four games, threw a 22 pitch in relief on Saturday, taking over after the game resumed for the second time.

Both the delay, the total one hour and 50 minutes, was batting with the Tigers in the fifth. Verlander is warming up in bullpen before the first renewal, but Leyland said he would not consider allowing Verlander continue after the second delay.

Ranger’s starter CJ Wilson came back after the first delay, but not after the second. He threw 96 pitches, close enough to a normal walk, there is little chance of Rangers vibrations of their scheduled four-man rotation.

As for the possibility Verlander pitch in Game 4: "I am confident that I can," he said.

And he will try to convince Leyland he should?

"I'm sure there will be," said Verlander.

Verlander went back on three days’ rest for Game 3 against the Yankees, but Leyland was a blank refusal to even consider the possibility of using it in a relief - at least two days rest - in the decisive Game 5 at rest for two days. Yankees ace CC Sabathia did just that in Game 5.

It is tempting part of this time, as long as Leyland and his staff are convinced that there is no health risk is that by pitching in Game 4, Verlander may be available for at least ease - again on three days rest - must there be a Game 7.

Doug Fister, who will start Game 3, it can be scheduled Game 7 starter Verlander with a bullpen option. Max Scherzer is to start Games 2 and 6, and Porcello might take Game 5, if Verlander returns on short rest.

One reason Leyland decided not to use Verlander was relieved against the Yankees had to have it ready for the game on Saturday. There are two days off between Game 7 ALCS and World Series Game 1, giving greater flexibility at this time.