GDT: 7/4/11 - DET (45-40) AT LAA (43-41) - 9:05 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Los Angeles AngelsMonday, July 4, 2011
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
Game Time - 9:05 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4, 2010.
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Preview Tigers happy to move on from Interleague PlayBy Evan Drellich / MLB.com | 7/3/2011 10:23 PM ET
Interleague Play brought better times for the Angels than the Tigers. Detroit heads into a three-game series in Anaheim having lost two straight series, both to National League clubs, and the Tigers wrapped up their junior circuit schedule with a 6-12 record.
The Angels, on the other hand, can finish 13-5 against the Senior Circuit if they win Sunday night at home against the Dodgers. A victory Sunday would also give the Halos a series win against every NL team they've played this season.
Their strong run against unfamiliar opponents hasn't only been about bragging rights for the Angels. They cut their deficit in the division from six games to one (behind the Rangers, who also play Sunday night) over the last 18 games, 14 of which have been against the NL (10-4).
Now, to keep up that success against American League clubs. They're just 31-36 within their own league, and they're also under .500 at home, with a 19-21 record at Angel Stadium.
A strong start from Joel Pineiro, who isn't pitching terrible statistically, but also isn't pitching to his usual level, would help the Angels start their final seven games before the All-Star Break on the right foot.
"Sometimes it's leaving the ball up a couple times, or not making a pitch when I need it," said Pineiro, who was out the first month of the season with tightness in his right shoulder. "I wish I could find an excuse ... it's just baseball."
The Tigers send a rookie southpaw to the hill for his first Major League start. Charlie Furbush, 25, went 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Toledo this season, and has a 2.49 ERA in 21 2/3 innings of big-league relief this season.
Tigers: Jones takes over for Knapp as pitching instructor• Rick Knapp was relieved of his duties as pitching coach on Sunday and bullpen coach Jeff Jones was inserted in his place.
The Tigers gave up 51 runs over a five-game stretch last week, including 15 runs to the Giants on Saturday.
"We're very thankful for everything that Rick has done for the organization," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We talked to him after the game. But we just felt our pitching staff is in a position where we couldn't quite get out of it what we would like, and we think that making a change is beneficial for us."
Angels: Hunter's return possible Monday• Right fielder Torii Hunter could return Monday from a left-hand contusion he suffered on Friday, when he was hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda.
"Hopefully if he continues to improve, [and] he'll be ready to play tomorrow," manager Mike Scioscia said Sunday.
Worth noting• Detroit has won 33 of its last 56 games dating to May 3.
Tigers: LHP Charlie Furbush (1-1, 2.49 ERA)Furbush will be making his Major League starting debut, moving into the rotation from the bullpen. Furbush went 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Toledo this season before being put in the Tigers' bullpen.
Angels: RHP Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.14 ERA)Pineiro hasn't been stellar lately, surrendering four runs or more in seven of his past eight games. Los Angeles is undefeated in his last four starts, but Pineiro has only one win over that span. He'll need better consistency with his sinker.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
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Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Al Alburquerque (right forearm flexor mass inflammation,
15-day disabled list on June 30),
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
15-day disabled list on May 11),
•
INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30),
Rehab with Toledo•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
Gameday•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Tuesday, July 5: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.32 ERA))
AT Angels (RHP
Dan Haren (8-5, 2.85 ERA)),
10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Wednesday, July 6: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA))
AT Angels (RHP
Tyler Chatwood (5-4, 3.83 ERA)),
3:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Thursday, July 7: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.82 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)