central intelligence
Justin Verlander is 10-8 with a 3.99 ERA. While some Twins starters would love to have those numbers, they represent a slump for the veteran Tigers righthander.
He's just not the dominating force he's been the past two years. He's won the AL strikeout title in each of the past two seasons but is only sixth heading into the weekend.
Doesn't sound like a problem out here. But the concern is over Verlander's curveball, which just doesn't have the same bite it's had in recent seasons. Some believe the lack of a good curveball is making his fastball more hittable.
From 2011 through the 2012 season, Verlander gave up five earned runs or more a combined five times. This year, he's done it six times.
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Well, that was fast.
After 48 games as the Royals' hitting coach, George Brett has stepped down.
"I just felt it was time for me to move on," Brett said. "It's been a tremendous experience for me after being gone for 20 years from the game, to have an opportunity again to put on a uniform. It was special."
