Mark Buehrle (3-6, 4.80) vs. 
Kenny Rogers (4-4, 5.13)
During last night's FSN Detroit "Tigers Live" post-game show, Justin Verlander was asked if the team felt satisfied after clinching a series win over the AL Central-leading White Sox. Fortunately, he dismissed that notion. The Tigers have displayed a lack of mental toughness plenty of times throughout this season, and sitting back and relaxing today, as if they've really accomplished something, would be yet another example of that. They need to finish this series off decisively.
Both Kenny Rogers and Mark Buehrle come into today's game having lost two of their last three starts. While Buehrle has given up 11 runs (10 earned) over those three games, however, Rogers has put together his best stretch of the season, allowing just five runs (three earned) over 21 innings.
For yesterday's GameThread, we ran a picture of a popular adult beverage that can be purchased at the ballpark. And the Tigers won the game. So at the suggestion of rock n rye (a popular Detroit soda himself), we'll run something else related to... ginger ale to try and keep that good ju-ju going. If you're talking ginger ale in Detroit, you must be talking Vernor's.
Ah, yes. Ginger and fizz feels good in your tum-tum.
Something else to watch out for today? Ozzie Guillen doesn't hold much affection for today's home plate umpire, Phil Cuzzi, and the feeling just might be mutual. Here's a quote from April, courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley:
"I don't like that guy behind the plate," Guillen said then. "And I'm going to let him know. I don't like him. He don't like me, I don't like him."Oooh, this could be fun.