Bluedude Sportstalk SPORTS SHORTS Take 29...Can TIGERS Pitchers VERLANDER and SCHERZER get to 2003 CUBS Pitchers PRIOR and WOODS 511 Strikeouts?...On Pace now for 505 Combined K's for 2012

The Tigers are in a Pennant Race and 3 Games behind the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox. But there is a different story brewing as well as the Tigers 1-2 Punch of Right-Handers Justin Verlander and Matt Scherzer are on Pace to get to rare company.

The Tigers Duo has 425 Strikeouts as we go to Press and the Cubs 2003 Duo of Right Handers Mark Prior (245 K's 2003) and "Kid K" himself Kerry Woods (266 K's 2003) sent 511 Hitters disappointed back to the Pine. That Cubs Staff also had Two More Pitchers with at least 150 K's or more in Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement. Clement had 171 and Big "Z" had 168. As a Staff the Cubs had a Robust 1,404 K's that Season and fell short of the 2003 Fall Classic by One Game.

Verlander and Scherzer are sure to get at least 4 More Starts under their Belt and are on pace for right at 505 K's and will fall short of that 511 by Woods and Prior. Verlander is just over 11 K's per and Scherzer is at just over 9 K's per outing.

Tonight Scherzer will get to add to his Total vs the Pale Hose in Game 3 of a 4 Piece on the Southside of the 'Go. Verlander will go in Game 4 on Thursday.

The Pennant Race is one thing but for the Tigers Staff the Strikeout Watch is on.

Numbers from MLB.com