Tiger still on the Loose

In Houston.

Fearless ALCS Prediction

With ALCS action beginning tonight, thought I would get my prediction in.

This should be a close, hard fought series. 

Early odds give a slight edge to to the Texas Rangers, but I like the Tigers.

With Justin Verlander getting the start in Game 1, there is a chance Verlander could pitch in three games, advantage Detroit.  I also like Jim Leyland as manager in the postseason.

Texas will try to unleash their offense and get to the Tiger's bullpen.

An interesting trend is theTigers are 21-6 in their last 27 vs. a team with a winning record.  They really step it up against good competition.

I like the Tigers to take the series in 7 good games.

Justin Verlander Pitches Second No-Hitter

Another no-hitter in the majors.

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander held the Toronto Blue Jays hitless in a 9-0 victory Saturday, four days after the Minnesota Twins' Francisco Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox.

It was the second no-hitter of Verlander's career. He also shut down the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007, a season after he was named AL Rookie of the Year.

Verlander had a perfect game going for 7 1/3 innings until J.P. Arencibia walked on a close pitch at the end of a 12-pitch at-bat. The following hitter, Edwin Encarnacion, bounced into a double-play, meaning Verlander still faced the minimum 24 batters through eight innings, and 27 for the game.

Rajai Davis struck out swinging, Verlander's fourth of the game, to complete the no-no. Verlander calmly celebrated -- after all, he's done this before -- just as he was getting swarmed by his teammates.

Earlier Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers' Yovani Gallardo took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals before yielding a leadoff single to Daniel Descalso.

On Friday night, St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia threw 7 1/3 perfect innings against the Brewers before settling for a two-hit shutout.

Also Friday, the Atlanta Braves' Derek Lowe pitched six no-hit innings against he Philadelphia Phillies before giving up two hits in the seventh and leaving with a blister in his right foot.

Six no-hitters, including two perfect games, were thrown last year.

Look for another no-hitter in the coming day, as thing like this seem to happen in "threes".