- I've had a few questions about my thoughts on Duane Below being sent to the minor leagues in favor of Luke Putkonen. While I understood it conceptually, I don't feel it was the right move. With Joaquin Benoit and Brayan Villarreal struggling so much, there is more of a need for a hard-throwing right-hander than a long lefty reliever. The Tigers have never shown much faith in Below with games on the line. Of his last 21 appearances, 20 were in Detroit losses. He was the mop up man. He doesn't fit as a situational left-hander. In his career, left-handed hitters are batting better against him than right-handed hitters.
But I don't think Putkonen will be any better. He has good velocity on his fastball, but his track record, even in the minor leagues, isn't good. I think this was the time to bring Bruce Rondon to the major leagues, but he got suspended for five games for throwing behind former Tiger Will Rhymes this week.
 - The Tigers lineup today is pretty balanced. Brennan Boesch has not hit well recently. It's a good idea to see if Quintin Berry can regain some of the form he had earlier this season. The idea is to play the hot hand. Right now, that is clearly not Boesch. Cole De Vries, the Twins' starter today, was brutal in his last outing. The Tigers should be able to get to him early. With their bullpen situation precarious at best, the Tigers need to get to this kid early and receive a seven-inning start from Max Scherzer.
 - Moving back Anibal Sanchez and starting Doug Fister on his normal rotation day because of upcoming days off is a no-brainer. Sanchez is the Tigers fifth starter at this point, and Fister No. 2. There is little doubt about that.