His team is in the midst of a September collapse that would even make the Mets blush.
His next start is in the ear-piercing Metrodome, where 55,000 towel-waving fans will cheer every bad pitch he throws, in a one-game playoff against the Twins’ best pitcher.
Winner faces the Yankees in the division series later this week. Loser has all winter to think about it.
Oh, and did we mention that Rick Porcello, the would-be savior, is 20 years old?
Other than that ...
No pressure.
“Nothing short of surreal,” his older brother Zach was saying Monday. Less than two years ago, Rick was wrapping up a state championship with Seton Hall Prep. Less than seven months ago, he was hoping just to find a spot on the big-league roster in spring training.
Tuesday, he’ll be starting for the Tigers in just the 14th one-game playoff in baseball history, against Twins ace Scott Baker. Zach and his father, Fred, will board a flight this morning to Minneapolis, knowing the kid’s unreal rookie season is about to get a lot more eventful.
