A pitcher’s duel.

Nationals 3, Tigers 1

For the first time, the Detroit Tigers played the Washington Nationals. They tried to play yesterday and started late today, but it finally happened. And many believe it is a World Series preview, the present author included. Fans of effective pitching were hardly disappointed as Anibal Sanchez (3-3, 45.2 IP, 1.97 ERA, 1.47 FIP, 2.2 WAR) and Jordan Zimmermann, two of the best arms going at the moment, faced off. Zimmermann surrendered a run in the third inning and held the Tigers to 7 hits over 7 innings while Sanchez gave the Tigers six strong innings, allowing just 3 runs (2 earned) while striking out 8 and walking none. They both exited with the Nats leading 3-1 and the bullpens kept it that way. With the loss, the Tigers lose for just the 2nd time in their last 11 games and fall to 19-12 on the season. They will attempt to split the series during tomorrow’s make up game behind Doug Fister (4-0, 40 IP, 2.48 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 1.1 WAR), who as a recent photograph indicates, is nearly as tall as the fence that protects the nation’s president.

The Moment: Bryce Harper hits a rather impressive homerun.