Verlander, Fulmer deliver 1-2 punch in starting rotation

Justin Verlander has been where Michael Fulmer is now.

A decade ago, Verlander was the rookie sensation in the Tigers rotation, delivering like an experienced ace every five games and supplying the velocity behind Detroit’s late-season run. Verlander was also the youngster pitching beyond his previous innings level from the Minor Leagues, trying to maintain not only his rotation spot, but the quality pitching that earned him it — from an upper-90’s fastball to a biting breaking ball.

Verlander sees the common ground they have. He has since Spring Training.

“It’s kind of a similar position to what I was in, really,” Verlander said during the late stages of this past season. “You’ve got a team that’s in the middle of the playoff hunt. You have one of your better pitchers.”

And as Fulmer headed toward the defining moments of his incredible rookie campaign, having ranked among the AL leaders in wins above replacement, Verlander is right there with him, just as former Tigers All-Star starter Kenny Rogers was for Verlander in 2006. Verlander has been there ever since camp, when he noticed the hard-throwing young right-hander with the big arm on the mound and his head buried in his locker in the crowded Lakeland, Fla. clubhouse.

“That’s why I talked to him when he got sent down in the spring,” Verlander said. “He’s going to go out there and attack. That’s a great combination. You have that fire to be great and the ability to do it. You can bring a pitcher out of that.”

The Tigers have brought out that pitcher, with a little help from their previous rookie sensation. Verlander tried to impart the lessons he learned in his first full Major League season. Many of those lessons set up the work habits and traits that sent Verlander on his way from the AL Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2006 to the AL MVP Award winner in ’11.

When the Tigers called up Fulmer near the end of April, he pitched two games after Verlander in the rotation order. When they faced the same opponent, Fulmer would study the way Verlander approached particular hitters, note what worked for the veteran, then take that into his outing. After all, they have a somewhat similar pitch selection.

“If we’re pitching against the same team, I’ll go back and watch his stuff because of his fastball, slider, changeup,” Fulmer said late in the season. “I’ll see when he uses it to guys and how their swings look against it and stuff like that, see if I can maybe pitch a guy somewhat similar.

“It’s been a big help when we’ve pitched in the same series — just to watch a guy like him and how he takes pitch calling into consideration. He thinks a few pitches ahead with what he’s trying to do. Every pitch he throws has a purpose. I’m trying to get to that point, setting up a pitch.”

By the first weekend in June, they were pitching back-to-back in the rotation, and the two would exchange ideas after games.

Fulmer also watched the way Verlander adjusted to hitters as the game went on, sometimes as at-bats went on. Verlander has a well-honed ability to read hitters’ swings and apply his observations into what he wants to throw. Fulmer …

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