Detroit Vs. Cleveland 8-19-11
Another difficult series in Cleveland last week didn't help the Detroit Tigers in their drive to win a division title for the first time since 1987.
Fortunately for the Tigers, their next matchup with the Indians is at Comerica Park.
Detroit will try to pad its slim AL Central lead by continuing its recent home dominance of Cleveland on Friday night
The Tigers (65-58) haven't helped themselves in the division race by losing six of 10, including dropping two of three in Cleveland from Aug. 9-11. With ace Justin Verlander's help, Detroit salvaged the finale of that series 4-3 and snapped a 13-game skid at Progressive Field.
The Tigers had a three-game lead over Cleveland after that victory but have seen that advantage cut in half as the Indians have won four of five, including a 4-2 victory over third-place Chicago on Thursday.
"I'm sure that the Tigers and White Sox are waiting for us to drop out," closer Chris Perez told the team's website. "We're not going to go anywhere."
Detroit is hoping another successful home series against Cleveland will change its fortune. The Tigers are 17-3 in their last 20 at Comerica against the Indians (62-58), winning two of three June 14-16 in the teams' only series there this season.
Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37 ERA) won the finale of that series and will try to set a career high in victories Friday.
The right-hander has allowed four earned runs in each of his last two outings but got a win Saturday when the Tigers rallied for a 6-5 victory in Baltimore. He gave up five runs in the second inning - on a pair of homers - but settled down to finish with a season-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
"You're going to get hit around, you're going to give up bombs, and it's just the way it goes," Scherzer told the team's website. "You've got to have thick skin to be able to pitch in this league."
Scherzer is 2-3 with a 5.50 ERA in six career starts against Cleveland but is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his two matchups at Comerica.
Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin, meanwhile, gave up five runs over six innings in his only start at Detroit, a 5-2 loss last Aug. 21. Scherzer yielded two runs and struck out eight over seven innings to win that game.
Tomlin (12-5, 3.97), though, won his only other start against the Tigers, allowing three runs over five innings in a 4-3 victory Sept. 29.
He enters this matchup following his first win in five starts, a 3-1 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. The right-hander gave up four hits for the third time in four outings and walked one in 6 1-3 innings.
To claim another victory, he might have to be careful against Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila. Cabrera is batting .397 with 12 RBIs during a 15-game hitting streak, and Avila has hit .426 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 14 games this month.
Cabrera has a double and two walks in three plate appearances versus Tomlin, while Avila is 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Shin-Soo Choo is 7 for 12 in his career off Scherzer, while Asdrubal Cabrera is 3 for 6 with a home run against him this season.
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