I have to admit, I am very gun shy about my pitchers now. Well, starting Verlander, Harang and Owings over the last month (well, all season for Verlander) will do that to you. That said, Verlander did pitch a decent game against the Tribe last time, a team that historically has owned him. He struggled against ChiSox all his career, and with the ChiSox getting hot now, is Verlander safe to start? Of course, I had him benched with his decent start against CLE, missed out on his 8 Ks. If history tells me anything, if I start him tonight, it will be 10 ER, 18 Whip and 2 Ks. If I sit him, he will probably pitch a gem.

You sound like a beat dog that flinches when someone goes to pet them.

Start the V.

Definitely swipe the V card tonight.

The Tigers are kind of weird this year. They seem like they're getting hot and then they blow chunks. And Verlander looks crappy with no confidence, Dontrelle just headed to A ball, Bonderman is out for the year, the bullpen is a rollercoaster, and they can put up 19 runs or 0 runs on any given day.

All that said, I'd start Verlander. It's just a feeling. Expectations are low for the Tigers while they're skyrocketting for the surging White Sox. I think it's the perfect time for a Detroit sweep and a Chicago slump.


Tangent: Actually, I don't believe in the White Sox pitching staff at all beyond Vazquez. They're pitching with confidence right now but I see harder days ahead for Chicago.

@Grey: thanks for the compliment. Well, if the philosophy behind starting V is that he will play a good game. Does this mean that I bench Swisher, Crede, and Alexei? (I now picked up all of them, and if not for the Dye for Cano trade, I would own half of the ChiSox)

This is because it makes no sense to go against yourself, if that makes any sense to anyone. Unless you are trying to hedge your bets that one of the two sides will struggle (Verlander or ChiSox) in which case, you will get 50% of what you potentially can get.

Well, I'd pray for a three solo homers against the V and ten Ks.