"Justin Verlander, according to Justin Verlander, always has something left in the tank.

He threw a career-high 133 pitches Thursday in the Tigers' elimination-preventing 7-5 victory over the Rangers in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

But guess who thought he was capable of more?

"I knew that was the case," Verlander said after the game about the Tigers depleted bullpen. Neither Jose Valverde nor Joaquin Benoit was available.

"Therefore, I knew (manager Jim Leyland) would let me ride out there for 130 pitches, 140 maybe."

What is this, 1970?

No one throws 140 pitches in a game anymore, but Verlander sounded as if he not only was ready for it, but capable of it.

Heck, after 133, he said about his arm, "It feels great."

Leyland had set 125 pitches as the limit."