The Detroit Tigers are going for their second straight series victory Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. It would be the first time Detroit has won back-to-back series since mid-April.
Justin Verlander will start for the Tigers. Since his nine-inning, 12-strikeout, one-hit shutout on May 18, Verlander has been somewhat human. And by his MVP standards, he's been in a downright slump.
In four starts since then, Verlander is 0-3 and has given up 12 earned runs in 26.1 innings. He has 27 K's over that stretch, but also nine walks, including seven in his last two outings.
These numbers would be incredible for just about anyone else, but for Verlander they do constitute a bit of a hiccup. Even so, he is still 5-4 on the year with a 2.90 ERA.
The Cubs' starter Thursday is Travis Wood, a 25-year-old lefty.
Detroit is 5.0 games back of the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox and 3.5 games back of the second-place Cleveland Indians.
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