A little longer than it needed to be.

Twins 4, Tigers 3 (Magic # = 2)

Justin Verlander (33 GS, 212.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 4.9 WAR) is toying with us. Just when you think you’re ready to move on and name someone else the Game One starter, he hangs 12 strikeouts on the Twins in 6 shutout innings in his penultimate start of the season. He had it all working and had little trouble pitching around the baserunners he did allow. On the other side, Hunter doubled in a run in the 5th and Cabrera and Martinez each knocked in a run in the 7th to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead, but the bullpen gave them all back and eventually surrendered the winning run in extra innings. The loss holds the magic number at two but they’ll still look to lock up their third straight AL Central crown (pending an Indians loss) with Doug Fister (31 GS, 201.1 IP, 3.71 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 4.3 WAR) making his final regular season start on Tuesday.

The Moment: Verlander fans 12 Twins in 6 innings.