MLB Playoffs 2011: Behind Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers Can Recover, Win ALCS

Following last night’s 7-3 Game 4 loss in 11 innings to the Texas Rangers, the air has been taken out of the sail of the Detroit Tigers’ ship. There are some downtrodden faces and an overall sense of gloom cast over a team that has lost two extra-inning games in stunning fashion to fall 3-1 in the American League Championship Series. With their backs against the proverbial wall, can this Tigers squad recover and take the series?

No doubt, there are some lofty hurdles to overcome, the first of which is the major saddened feeling of losing two games in extra innings by four runs. Those are major body blows to any team. Those sort of uppercuts have the Texas Rangers feeling spry, swinging and superior. There is only one more knockout punch left to be thrown to send the Tigers flat to the mat.

Moreover, there is quite an uphill climb for the Detroit team that has lost All-Star right fielder Magglio Ordoñez for the remainder of the postseason. While the Tigers were able to call for reinforcements, replacement Delmon Young was also injured with a strained oblique. Meanwhile, catcher Victor Martinez and Alex Avila are going through their own ailments, amplified in part to the lengthy extra-inning affairs.

With all of these question marks, are the Tigers able to rebound and win this series?

The answer is absolutely.

The maxim remains the same: take it one game at a time. And that’s how the Tigers have to approach the rest of the ALCS, starting tonight with Game 5. Inning by inning, at-bat by at-bat, pitch by pitch, the Tigers will be able to compartmentalize the game so as not to look too far ahead at the task at hand. And the best way to do that is to rely on their confidence behind the best pitcher in the American League this season, their very own Justin Verlander.

MLB is right—the postseason is where legends are made. And Verlander has an opportunity tonight to make his mark toward a historical team recovery. The likely AL Cy Young Award winner can help add to his extraordinary season by placing the rest of his maligned team on his shoulders and pitch them to victory.

No handing off to the bullpen. No extra innings. No need for his offense to score eight runs. Just do what Verlander’s done all season and get his ballclub back into the fight.

Verlander’s been incredibly special this year, and if he is able to keep up his end of the bargain, then it will be an exciting game to watch, extending the playoff dreams of the Tigers, the city of Detroit and all fans.

While Texas is an electrifying bunch in their own right, baseball needs to have Verlander dominate one more game and show the world how remarkably gifted he is. If he is able to do so tonight, he will give the Tigers the confidence they need to look to evening the series in Game 6.

First things first: win tonight.