Detroit Tigers: Best Week Ever for Jim Leyland? His Best Move Is Still to Come

A week and a half ago, things looked dire for the Detroit Tigers.

They were coming off a lackluster series against a reeling Twins team while the Cleveland Indians were heating up heading into their weekend series in Detroit.

To make matters worse, Jim Leyland decided to give Justin Verlander an extra day of rest and pitch Rick Porcello in the series finale against Ubaldo Jimenez. Many questioned this decision, none more than yours truly.

The Tigers received strong pitching efforts from Max Scherzer and Doug Fister to take the first two games of the Indians series, and got out to a 7-0 lead in the series finale. Leyland's decision nearly blew up in his face as Rick Porcello failed to make it out of the fourth inning, letting the Indians back into the game. Luckily for Leyland's rep, Cleveland ended up losing 8-7 when Austin Jackson threw out Kosuke Fukudome at the plate to end the game.

The game seemed to be a rallying point for Leyland's Tigers as they have just wrapped up an extremely successful 5-2 road trip and head back to Detroit with a six-game lead in the AL Central over the Chicago White Sox.

Give credit where credit is due. Leyland has been criticized for nearly everything he's done—failing to bunt to advance runners, sitting Wilson Betemit, bullpen decisions, etc.

But in the last three series everything Leyland has touched has turned to gold, and as a result the Tigers have won eight of their last 10 games.

Pitching Porcello allowed the Tigers to lead off the Tampa Bay Rays series with their ace. Verlander shut down Tampa and the tone was set for the series as all four Tigers starters pitched well enough to win in the series.

Despite my love/hate feelings on Leyland, his best move is still to come.

Leyland will give Justin Verlander an extra day of rest this week. Normally, this would set me off in the midst of a pennant chase, but replacing Verlander will be Jacob Turner. 

Turner pitched well against the LA Angels in a spot start in July and will be facing the lowly Kansas City Royals at home this time.

Since Turner will pitch on Thursday, Verlander will lead off the weekend series against the now second-place Chicago White Sox, who are nearing must-sweep status as the season dwindles down.

To do it, the White Sox will have to beat Verlander and Scherzer—the Tigers' best starters.

Well played, Leyland. Let's hope this strategy plays out like the last time you changed the rotation.