GDT: 7/31/11 - DET (56-51) VS LAA (59-49) - 1:05 p.m. ET ---
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Detroit Tigers VS Los Angeles AngelsSunday, July 31, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 1:05 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. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Aces high as Weaver, Verlander face offBy Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 7/30/2011 8:48 PM ET
Call it a Cy Young showcase.
Detroit's Justin Verlander and the Angels' Jered Weaver -- two of the American League's best pitchers this season -- will match up against each other in a compelling duel on Sunday. Weaver and Verlander each have 14 victories, and they both rank in the top three of the league's ERA and WHIP charts.
"It's like a playoff game when you have pitchers like Verlander and Weaver," said the Angels' Maicer Izturis. "Every at-bat means something. Verlander likes to attack. He wants to get ahead [in the count], but as a hitter, you don't want that to happen. His stuff is too good to get behind."
Indeed, Verlander leads the league in both strikeouts and innings pitched, and he's managed to complete at least six innings in every one of his starts this season. And still, he's the underdog on Sunday. Weaver has the best ERA in the Majors, and he's posted a 7-0 record and a 1.04 ERA in his past eight starts.
"It's going to be a good time," said Weaver of the matchup. "[Verlander] throws 100 [mph]. Obviously, not too many people do that. His changeup and curveball are pretty impressive, too. ... I'd like to go out there with a 100-mph fastball. But I think we're obviously two totally different pitchers. I've got to change speeds and keep people off balance and trick people. He can get away with a lot of things, throwing so hard."
Verlander has gone 12-2 since the beginning of May, and Detroit has gone 11-1 in his past 12 starts. The first-place Tigers swung a trade to help complement their ace on Saturday, netting right-handers Doug Fister and David Pauley from Seattle in order to bolster the rotation and relief staff, respectively.
Angels: Weaver about wins, not awardsWeaver has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his past 10 starts, and he's registered more strikeouts than walks 10 times in that span. The right-hander, who has thrown 13 consecutive quality starts, can tie a franchise record set by Frank Tanana in 1977 if he throws another one on Sunday.
Those are the kind of things that may motivate Weaver, but not the Cy Young Award balloting.
"I don't know. I'm not even worried about that, to tell you the truth," Weaver said. "We'll find out about that at the end of the season. I don't want to put that pressure on myself. I don't need the notoriety. I don't need that stuff. That's not what I play the game for; I play it for the love of the game and to go out and compete."
Tigers: Late leads in good handsThe Tigers are 46-0 when leading after seven innings this season and 50-0 when on top after the eighth inning, and closer Jose Valverde has converted all 27 of his save opportunities -- the second-longest streak in franchise history. Only Guillermo Hernandez, who had 32 straight saves in 1984, has done better.
Worth notingDetroit rookie Jacob Turner allowed five stolen bases in his debut on Saturday, the most for a pitcher in his first game since Brian Barber allowed six for the Cardinals in 1995. ... Erick Aybar is batting .429 against Verlander in 21 at-bats, and Izturis is hitting .455 in 22 at-bats. ... Weaver has gone at least six innings in 30 straight starts going back to last season. ... The Tigers are 7-4 in their past 11 games against the Angels.
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (14-5, 2.34 ERA)Verlander struggled in his most recent outing, giving up four earned runs in eight innings against the White Sox, but still picked up the win. He has given up at least four runs in two of his past three starts.
Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (14-4, 1.79 ERA)Talk about your dream matchups. Weaver, enhancing his Cy Young Award case, has yielded six earned runs in his past seven starts and has won eight straight decisions. He's doing it with poise, a wide repertoire and cross-firing deception.
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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 Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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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) • Monday, August 1: OFF DAY
• Tuesday, August 2: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.28 ERA))
VS Rangers (RHP
Colby Lewis (10-8, 4.00 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)