Yu Darvish News

You wanted a pitcher's duel in Texas? You got one. But it wouldn't be Justin Verlander and Yu Darvish dueling.

Count me in that latter category, I must confess. I thought the real Mitch Moreland was the one we saw for three years and in the first three weeks of this season - a .264-hitting kind of guy, who couldn't hit lefties and infrequently drove in an important run.

On Thursday night, Yu Darvish beat the Detroit Tigers and went 130 pitches. It wasn't his best performance this year or even this month, but it may end up the most scrutinized .

Matchup: Tigers at Texas, 8:05. TV/radio: FSD; WXYT-AM , WXYT-FM . Pitching: Tigers - RH Anibal Sanchez .

FALSE HOPES: Detroit Tigers OF Don Kelly is congratulated by third base coach Tom Brookens after hitting a home run as Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish grabs a rosin bag in the first inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas May 16, 2013.

Ron Washington isn't second-guessing his decision to have Yu Darvish throw 130 pitches in Thursday's 10-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Long before there were sabermetrics and Baseball-Reference.com, dad kept notebooks in which he would meticulously log the daily box score lines of all the major league pitchers.

I must have missed the memo about the barnstorming tour of Yu Darvish . The Rangers ace is not only among the best pitchers in baseball, he also is the most entertaining pitcher in the sport.

Detroit Tigers' Don Kelly is congratulated by third-base coach Tom Brookens after hitting a home run against the Texas Rangers in the third inning Thursday.

As baseball fans get set for a fantastic pitching battle on Thursday evening between two of the top pitchers in baseball, has seized the mantle as the best Japanese born player in Major League Baseball.

The highly anticipated pitching duel between Justin Verlander and Yu Darvish failed to materialize as the Japanese ace's Texas Rangers eased to a 10-4 triumph over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Then again, that's what happens when your ace, your All-Star, your Justin Verlander, has one of the worst starts - not to mention, the worst inning - of his career.

In this week's Awards Watch, I take my first isolated look at the year's Cy Young races and find past winners and perennial contenders for the award leading very competitive fields in both leagues.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is seen in the dugout during the first inning against the Houston Astros in Detroit on Wednesday.

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish, of Japan, watches from the dugout rail during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, April 6, 2012 in Arlington, Texas.

OCTOBER 27: Colby Lewis #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning during Game Six of the MLB World Series against the St.

Justin Verlander says it's May. Yu Darvish says it's not the great opposing pitcher he's faced, and won't be his last.

Matt Harvey, who boasts a 1.44 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched, has yet to record a loss.

Jose Fernandez has been an invaluable member of the Marlins' rotation in 2013 and could be on his way to one of the best seasons by a rookie pitcher in recent memory.

A.J. Pierzynski has declared himself fit to return to the Texas Rangers' lineup, but there's one fairly significant problem.