GDT: 7/10/11 - DET (48-43) AT KC (37-53) - 2:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Kansas City RoyalsSunday, July 10, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Game Time - 2:10 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 Verlander has been aces against rival RoyalsBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/10/2011 12:00 AM ET
Get your barbecue ready, Kansas City. Justin Verlander is coming to town.
Verlander, owner of a 0.84 ERA and .179 average against in his last eight starts, enters Sunday's first-half finale as one of baseball's hottest pitchers. As can be expected with a stretch such as that, Verlander has been locked in, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
"I just watched his mannerisms and I read his quotes, and you could tell that he was locked in pretty good," Leyland said of Verlander's season. "I think he made a point about getting off slow before and not wanting to do that again, and changing a couple of things; getting himself more mentally ready to start the season. You could just tell."
Kansas City knows full well the kind of stuff Verlander has. On May 13, the right-hander held the Royals to only two hits in eight innings and is 11-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 career starts against them.
"You've got to be ready to hit when you get in there. He's got great stuff," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You've got to get him early before he gets the breaking ball on you and you've got to hope he's not commanding that breaking ball on that given day, and narrow him down to one pitch."
During Verlander's eight-game stretch he has averaged more than one strikeout per inning compared to only 10 walks in 64 1/3 innings.
"His command has been impeccable with that great stuff," Yost said. "You just hope your starting pitcher is as good as he is, get his pitch count up, get him out and do some damage on the 'pen. That's all you can hope for."
Attempting to do that for the Royals is left-hander Jeff Francis, who lost to the Tigers on May 14 after allowing three runs in eight innings.
Tigers: Valverde nearing own markCloser Jose Valverde has converted 23 straight saves, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Next on the list? Valverde, of course. The closer recorded 24 straight saves from April 9-August 21, 2010.
• With it being a hot day in Kansas City on Saturday, Leyland sat regulars Magglio Ordonez, Jhonny Peralta and Brandon Inge. They likely will return to the lineup on Sunday.
Royals: Moustakas to returnMike Moustakas didn't play on Saturday, as Yost decided to give his rookie third baseman an off-day. Moustakas, mired in a 0-for-21 skid, will be back in the lineup on Sunday.
"He's struggling a little bit. It's a good day to catch your breath," Yost said. "He'll be back in there [Sunday]."
• Royals closer Joakim Soria has recorded eight straight saves.
Worth noting• Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is hitting .336 with 13 doubles, 16 homers and 51 RBIs in 63 career games against the Royals.
• Kansas City has dropped 11 of its last 14 games against division opponents.
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.26 ERA)After a 1-0 duel with Dan Haren ended Verlander's seven-start winning streak with his first loss since April 27, he'll try to close his first half on a positive note by beating the Royals. He's 11-2 lifetime against Kansas City.
Royals: LHP Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69 ERA)Francis has given the Royals consistently steady performances, generally keeping the team in the game into the late innings. That's what he did on Monday at Chicago, holding the Sox to two runs in six innings although the Royals lost in the ninth.
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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:
-
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) • Sunday, July 10: Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Chase Field featuring: XM All-Star Futures Game, 6 p.m. ET,
MLB.TV, ESPN2 and
Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game,
approximately 9:30 ET (The game will be televised in HD by
ESPN the next day, immediately
following the State Farm Home Run Derby at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET
on July 11.)
• Monday July 11: Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Chase Field featuring:
State Farm Home Run Derby, 8 ET,
ESPN• Tuesday July 12: 82nd MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field, 8 ET,
FOX• Wednesday July 13: OFF DAY
• Thursday July 14: OFF DAY