I keep reading about how the Rangers need to avoid facing Detroit in the first round of the playoffs because they'd have to face Justin Verlander twice in a five game series. I've seen fans suggest that, if the Rangers were to face Detroit, they should juggle their rotation so that C.J. Wilson doesn't face Verlander, because Verlander is so dominant and so unstoppable and is pitching at such a high level down the stretch...
That's silliness, though.
Setting aside the fact that the Rangers are a better team than Detroit, have a much better run differential than the Tigers, and have (per BP) by a far a better 2nd order and 3rd order winning percentage than the Tigers (the best in baseball, in fact)...
Looking just at the matchup of the #1 starters, and how well they are pitching right now...
Justin Verlander has an ERA since the All Star Break of 2.52, pitching half his games in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball.
C.J. Wilson has an ERA since the All Star Break of 2.62, pitching half his games in one of the best hitter's parks in baseball.
So, why should I, as a Rangers fan, be scared of Justin Verlander? Bring him on.