DETROIT, MI - MAY 9: Pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Comerica Park on May 9, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) Pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch. (File Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
By: Pat Caputo
@patcaputo98
1. Torii Hunter – After Thursday’s 7-3 loss to Toronto, during which he dropped a routine fly that led to a big inning by the Blue Jays, Hunter’s Sabermetric statistic WAR (Wins above Replacement) for 2014 dropped to 0.9 (Baseball Reference version). That ranks 1,025 among 1,039 MLB players.
2. Justin Verlander- This is the second straight year Verlander has gone through a tough stretch at this time of the year. His WHIP is 1.47, well above the MLB average.
3. Nick Castellanos – The rookie third baseman had three hits Thursday. That could be a good thing for the Tigers. He had been in a bad slump and still has not hit a home run in his last 92 at bats.