- Orioles' manager Buck Showalter made an obvious mistake by starting lefty Wei-Yin Chen instead of Kevin Gausman today for the Orioles. Chen., even though he won 16 games and is solid, fits right into the collective wheelhouse of Tigers' hitters, Gausman appears like their worst nightmare as a hard-throwing right-hander with command of the baseball.
- Anibal Sanchez has terrific movement on his pitches. It's almost like hasn't even been out. If this stays a two-run game, it'll be interesting to see if Brad Ausmus goes to Joe Nathan in ninth or when.
- Justin Verlander didn't get as deep into this game as hoped, but the good part is that Sanchez was there to pick him. It would be a misnomer to suggest Verlander is back. He is not a dominant pitcher right now, but he certainly better than he was for much of this season.
- It'll be interesting to see how much trust in the various elements of his bullpen Ausmus will have today, especially Joakim Soria, who was awful last night.