27-year old righty Doug Fister is going to start Game #2 in the playoffs for the Tigers. He has pitched in 10 games (9 starts) since coming over in a deal with the Mariners and he is 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. Fister has pitched in 31 games (30 starts) for the Mariners & Tigers so far this year and he is 10-13 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has really pounded the strike zone this year as he has only walked 37 batters while whiffing 137 of them in 208 1/3 innings so far this year. Fister has also only allowed 190 hits so far this year. The Tigers gave up a lot to get Doug Fister from the Mariners, but it was worth it.

33-year old closer Jose “Papa Grande” Valverde has been outstanding for the Tigers this year. He has pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Tigers so far this year and he is 2-4 with 46 saves, a 2.41 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Valverde has only given up 48 hits while whiffing 62 batters in his first 67 1/3 innings this year. He has had control issues with 33 walks, but he has gotten out of most of the jams he has gotten himself into. Valverde has now pitched in 130 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 4-8 with 72 saves, a 2.69 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Valverde is now #6 in Tigers’ history with his 72 saves.

34-year old righty reliever Joaquin Benoit heated up with the weather for the Tigers this year. Since June 1st, Benoit is 3-0 with 2 saves, a 1.67 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. He has only given up 23 hits while whiffing 40 batters in only 37 2/3 innings since June 1st. Benoit has now pitched in 62 games (0 starts) overall this year and he is 4-3 with 2 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Benoit and Valverde have given he Tigers a lethal combo late in games this year.

28-year old righty starting pitcher Justin Verlander’s stats have finally matched his stuff in 2011. He has pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Tigers so far this year and he is 22-5 with a 2.44 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He has only given up 157 hits in his first 229 innings this year with 232 whiffs and only 51 walks. I know that Jered Weaver is having an outstanding year for the Angels, but Verlander has to be the Cy Young winner in the A.L. this year. Verlander has now pitched in 196 games (all starts) in his first 7 years with the Tigers and he is 105-57 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has turned into one of the very best pitchers in all of baseball and he’s a big reason why the Tigers are going to win the A.L. Central this year.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Doug Fister has been excellent since coming over in a deal with the Mariners at the end of July. Fister has pitched in 7 games (all starts) for the Tigers so far and he is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He has only given up 43 hits in his first 44 1/3 innings for the Tigers while walking only 3 batters and whiffing 36 of them. Fister has been impressive and the Tigers need him to keep up the good work. Fister has now pitched in 28 games (all starts) overall this year for the Tigers & Mariners and he is 7-13 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.