GDT: 8/5/11 - DET (59-52) AT KC (48-63) - 8:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Kansas City RoyalsFriday, August 5, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Game Time - 8:10 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. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Leyland won't underestimate the RoyalsBy Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 8/4/2011 7:18 PM ET
Tigers manager Jim Leyland knows where the Royals sit in the American League Central standings.
He also knows better than to underestimate an opponent, especially an opponent with a roster full of young talent like the Royals.
"Everybody thinks you're playing Kansas City, you're supposed to win," Leyland said. "It doesn't work that way. They just were in Chicago a week or so ago and beat them two out of three, then they went somewhere else and beat them two out of three. They just beat Cleveland. We're very respectful, believe me. We know how dangerous they are. They've got some talent."
On Friday, Leyland will send Rick Porcello to the mound against the Royals in the first game of the series. Kansas City will counter with Felipe Paulino.
"It doesn't matter who you're playing. A lot of times, it's when you're playing them," Leyland continued. "They're very talented, and some people say they have the best young players in baseball, including some real good young pitching, one of which we'll see. So, we've got our work cut out."
Porcello has lost only one of his last eight starts against the Royals, though just three of those outings were quality starts. He has enjoyed an abundance of run support, including six runs on July 8 at Kauffman Stadium.
He went 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA last month.
As for Paulino, he worked six scoreless innings last Saturday at Cleveland, holding the Indians to four hits in a no-decision. He has issued just seven unintentional walks in his last six starts, with 42 strikeouts.
Tigers: Miggy, Guillen to host fundraiser• Tigers players Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen will host the Detroit Tigers Foundation's signature annual fundraising effort when they take part in Keeping Kids in the Game, a ballpark event under the lights on Thursday, Aug. 18.
• Jhonny Peralta and Justin Verlander were selected as the Tigers' Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for July, as voted by local media members in Detroit.
Royals: Hosmer rookie of the month• Eric Hosmer was named AL Rookie of the Month for July on Wednesday. The Royals' 2008 first-round pick earned the distinction after hitting .306 with five home runs, 19 RBIs, 34 hits and nine doubles in 27 games.
• Mike Moustakas was out of the lineup on Wednesday and will not play Thursday so he can concentrate on his swing.
Worth noting• On Wednesday, Tigers closer Jose Valverde became the first pitcher to convert his first 30 save chances from the start of a season since Philadelphia's Brad Lidge accomplished the feat in 2008.
• Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones told MLB Network Radio Thursday morning that he still thinks Phil Coke has the stuff to make it as a starter in the right situation, but that the circumstances and expectations this year didn't work out.
Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.50 ERA)Porcello makes his first start of August after going 5-0 in July with a 3.06 ERA and 29 hits over 32 1/3 innings, including a win in Kansas City on July 8. His work to get opposing hitters away from sitting on his sinker has paid off.
Royals: RHP Felipe Paulino (1-4, 3.51 ERA)Paulino worked six scoreles innings last Saturday at Cleveland, holding the Tribe to four hits in a no-decision. Although his pitch counts tend to be high, Paulino has issued just seven unintentional walks in his last six starts with 42 strikeouts.
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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) • Saturday, August 6: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (15-5, 2.24 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Danny Duffy (3-4, 5.05 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, August 7: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.23 ERA))
AT Royals (LHP
Bruce Chen (5-5, 4.37 ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)