Verlander had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings and ultimately allowed only one run on two hits and one walk in eight dominant innings against the Dodgers.
DETROIT — Unless the Detroit Tigers pull off a shock trade in the next 10 days, Justin Verlander won’t be pitching in the playoffs this year.
But the Tigers ace tried his best to manufacture a playoff atmosphere in his mind on Sunday as he went up against the best team in baseball.
The results were impressive.
“If Justin Verlander’s pitching well, it doesn’t matter (who it is) , ” said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. “It could be the ’27 Yankees. He’s going to pitch well. The numbers are going to look pretty good for Ver at the end of the game if he’s pitching like he did today.”
Verlander had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings and ultimately allowed only one run on two hits and one walk in eight dominant innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of a handful of teams that have popped up in trade rumors this year.
“This morning I just kind of told myself I’m going to try to take a playoff-type intensity out there and not let these guys sweep us, ” Verlander said. “It’s impossible to really create a playoff atmosphere without being in the playoffs, but I tried my best to do that. There was that much more focus and intensity in every pitch.”
Verlander said he felt drained afterwards and wasn’t sure today’s mentality is something he could replicate consistently over a six-month season. But for one start, at least, it did the job.
“For whatever reason, I guess I kind of locked in a little more, ” he said. “It’s just one of those things. Today that was my mentality.”
