Justin Verlander is an another league. The Arizona Diamondbacks proved Saturday night they have some work to do before they are in the same league as Verlander. He struck out 14 hitters while scattering only 4 hits over 8 innings in leading the Detroit Tigers to a 6-0 victory over the Dbacks.
Josh Collmenter, returning home to pitch in the big leagues for the first time in front of friends and family, had a rough go of it giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. Collmenter had his third straight subpar performance and left Dbacks fans wondering was his early success just a mirage? I think it is more that hitters are now figuring him out. There is enough game footage of him now to study. Collmenter also doesn’t have a big league fastball which I believe is hinders his success.
Collmenter could have been perfect tonight though and it wouldn’t have mattered. Verlander was that good. Clearly he is in another class and showed why he is the reigning American League Cy Young. The Dbacks will need to brush it off and get the series win tomorrow before coming home for a short three game homestand.