If the Tigers are going to win the American League Central Division and then make some noise in the playoffs, they're going to need Justin Verlander.
Yet it hasn't been Verlander's year at all.
He came into Friday night's opender of a pivotal three-game series at Kansas City with a 13-12 record and 4.81 ERA, looking far from the Cy Young/MVP winner he was in 2011. He was 2-2 with a 5.57 ERA in five starts against the Royals this season.
But as he did last year, Verlander rose to the occasion, holding the Royals to one run on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. He also struck out four in the Tigers' 10-1 victory.
"He certainly seemed like he was up for this game," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "It was one of the best games he's thrown all year."
The Tigers (85-68) are now 1 1/2 games ahead of the Royals (83-69) in the division.
One of the defining moments for Verlander came with the Tigers leading 4-0 in the second inning. The Royals had runners at second and third with one out with Verlander's nemesis, Billy Butler, at the plate.
With a 3-0 count, Butler had the green light and swung, flying out to Torii Hunter in short right field. Salvador Perez couldn't tag and score from third base.
Verlander then got former Tiger Omar Infante to ground out to end the threat.
"I like pitching in those moments," Verlander said. "I like it when the crowd is rowdy. It really just kind of gets me locked in.
"It's fun to pitch in these games. It's what you dream of when you're a kid, these important games in September and October. You want to seize the moment and have fun at the same time."
It hasn't been fun for Verlander, who had core-muscle surgery in early January, cutting short his typical offseason preparations. He's worked all season to make adjustments to what his body will allow him to do.
It's just not possible for him to blast 100-mph fastballs these days, but he didn't need to Friday.
"A little different Justin Verlander here (Friday) evening -- not the Justin Verlander with the blazing fastball but a Justin Verlander that pitched to a lot of contact," FOX Sports Detroit analyst Rod Allen said. "Not a lot of strikeouts for Justin, mostly first-pitch strikes, then he was able to expand the strike zone.
"Tons of ground balls. He looked like (Rick) Porcello out there with all the ground balls that he got the Kansas City Royals hitters to hit into."
Verlander had 10 ground-ball outs as opposed to five fly-outs.
"I thought he did an outstanding job of mixing his pitches," FOX Sports Detroit analyst Craig Monroe said. "He threw first-pitch breaking ball, then he would speed it up with that good fastball.
"I also loved the movement that he had on his two-seam fastball. It was moving late in the strike zone, making it tough for guys to barrel him up."
Meanwhile, the Tigers were able to barrel up Royals starter Jason Vargas easily, forcing him out after he gave up five runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings. The lead was 10-0 by the fifth inning, and the offense allowed Verlander to be more aggressive.
Although Verlander might not be the same pitcher he was three years ago, he can still be effective and help the Tigers win like he did Friday.
"I saw it last year," Hunter said. "He had some struggles in the beginning of the season last year and September, he stepped up. This year is no different.
"He was called to come out and pitch in a crucial game like this with the Royals, against Vargas -- who's been pitching well -- and he stepped up to the plate, gave up one run in seven and a half innings.
"I definitely think that guy is a big-game player."
