This is technically a regular season game but it essentially is a playoff game. It’s win or go home time for the Tigers and Twins in the MetroDome on Tuesday. The Tigers are going with 20-year old righty rookie starting pitcher Rick Porcello in this game while the Twins counter with right Scott Baker. Porcello has started 30 games for the Tigers so far this season and he is 14-9 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. In 4 starts against the Twins this season he is 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Porcello will have to be very careful with two hitters who come into this game very, very hot. Jason Kubel is 8 for 11 (.727 avg, 1.636 OPS) against Porcello this season with 2 doubles. Delmon Young also has caught fire at the right time for the Twins as he is 4 for 9 with a double and 2 RBIs against Porcello. It will be interesting to see how Porcello reacts to the noise and pressure in this game. Scott Baker has started 32 games for the Twins this season and he is 15-9 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has not pitched too well against the Tigers this season however as he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 4 starts. The Tigers have a few hitters that are very effective against him. Magglio Ordonez is 6 for 11 (.545 avg, 1.091 OPS) with 3 RBIs against him this season. Miguel Cabrera is 4 for 11 (.364 avg, 1.144 OPS) with a double, homer and 2 RBIs this season against Baker. Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco are each 3 for 6 against Baker this season. This game will be fun to watch as both pitchers throw strikes and depend on their defense.

26-year old lefty rookie reliever Fu-Te Ni is pitching great for the Detroit Tigers this season. He has stepped up giving the Tigers a second lefty in the pen to team with Bobby Seay. Ni has pitched in 33 games for the Tigers this season and he is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Ni has been nasty only allowing 20 hits in 30 innings this season for the Tigers. It will be interesting to see if Ni is included on the post season roster for the Tigers.

20-year old righty starting pitcher Rick Porcello has been solid for the Tigers this season. He has started 28 games for the Tigers this year and he is 13-9 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Porcello was the Tigers’ #1 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. The Tigers considered shutting Porcello down for the season but they just can’t as the rotation is having some issues at the back end.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Edwin Jackson is pitching the best baseball of his career right now for the Tigers. He has started 30 games for the Tigers this year and he is 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. In 195 innings this season Jackson has only allowed 179 hits (25 homers) while striking out 151 batters. Jackson has truly learned how to pitch trusting his stuff instead of trying to whiff everyone. The trade the Tigers made to get Jackson from the Rays is looking like a steal right now.

The Detroit Tigers pitcher Fernando Rodney has been suspended three games after a post-game, celebratory toss of the baseball into the crowd.  The 32-year-old Rodney had just finished battling the Tampa Bay Rays in the 9th inning on Friday, earning his 32nd save of the year, when he decided to throw the ball into the crowd.  The ball, which nobody was struck by, ended up in the press box and MLB’s vice president of discipline, Bob Watson, issued the three game suspension today.  This suspension seems a little harsh and unnecessary as the ball didn’t even hit anyone.  Players are always throwing souvenirs to fans, but Rodney must have really gunned it up into the crowd for it to reach the press box.

Still, handing out a three game suspension to a guy who was just letting off some positive emotion after picking up a 35-pitch save is a little excessive.  At most I think Rodney should have been fined and maybe a one game suspension.  He is most likely going to appeal and have the suspension reduced.  The Tigers are lucky that both the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins have pretty much fallen out of contention because losing your closer for three games in September would usually be a big loss for a division leading team.