GDT81: 7/1/13 - DET (43-37) AT TOR (40-41) - 1:07 p.m. ET

Tigers: LHP Jose Alvarez (1-1, 3.78 ERA)

Alvarez got the first loss of his career after allowing four earned runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Angels on Wednesday. He has a 3.78 ERA with a 1-1 record in three starts filling in for Anibal Sanchez.



Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey (7-8, 4.72 ERA)

Dickey is coming off his best start of the season after he tossed a two-hit shutout vs the Rays. He walked just one batter in that outing and seemed to solve a lot of the control issues which have plagued him earlier in the year.





Dickey aims to build on last outing in series opener
Detroit aims to get back on track behind Alvarez in visit to Toronto

By Evan Peaslee / MLB.com | 6/30/2013 1:20 PM ET

Both the Tigers and Blue Jays enter Monday's Canada Day matinee at Rogers Centre on a bit of skid.

The Blue Jays have gone 2-5 since their 11-game winning streak was snapped, while the Tigers have lost five of their last six. Both teams will be looking to get things back on track when they meet Monday.

Toronto will send knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to the mound after he had his most dominant performance as a Blue Jay last time he toed the rubber.

Dickey tossed a two-hit shutout against the Rays, with one walk and six strikeouts.

"You could tell early on that he had it going," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "That's as good of a game as you can pitch, unless it's perfect."

The 2012 National League Cy Young winner has battled with inconsistency this season, partially because of back and neck tightness, and has long said he was working on fixing some things.

"I told you it would take some time to unlearn some bad habits that I had picked up trying to compensate for some earlier maladies," said Dickey, who threw 68 of his 93 pitches for strikes. "It's starting to take shape a little bit. Hopefully, this will be a springboard for the next hundred innings."

Opposing him will be Jose Alvarez, who will be making only his fourth career start.

Alvarez pitched 5 2/3 innings last time out against the Angels, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk, with three strikeouts. It also marked the first time the left-hander got over the 100-pitch barrier since filling in for Anibal Sanchez in the Tigers' rotation.



Blue Jays: Rajai showing his worth in place of Melky
Rajai Davis has done a fine job of filling in for Melky Cabrera in left field since taking over the job on Friday.

Davis has reached base seven times in 13 plate appearances with three stolen bases and two runs scored since then.

Cabrera went on the disabled list because of left knee tendinitis, an issue that's been plaguing the outfielder nearly all season, and Davis' added speed and mobility has been noticeable in the outfield.

Davis has made a few nice plays, including a leaping grab in Saturday's contest, and his wheels are a big reason for why the club decided to call up an infielder in Cabrera's place as opposed to another outfielder.

"He adds a different element. He gets on base and he can run wild," Gibbons said. "We talked about some different options, but we thought, 'You know what? Raj has been swinging a little bit. Get him out there.'"

In the Boston series, Davis started all four games, going 7-for-14 with five steals and four runs scored.

Tigers: Archives help Verlander
To solve the mystery of Justin Verlander's issues this season, pitching coach Jeff Jones had to dig back a couple of years into the Tigers' archives.

Verlander has not looked himself this season, but in Saturday's game against the Rays, the 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner looked more like his old self after changing the tilt of his shoulders. He allowed three runs on nine hits, with four strikeouts over eight innings.

"I thought that was the best he's thrown in a while," manager Jim Leyland said.

Jones said he watched Verlander throw from the sidelines and reviewed films over the past couple of seasons, and found that the tall right-hander had kept getting his front arm higher and higher.

"Justin has a great feel for when he does something wrong," Jones said. "But he didn't feel this one."

After the slight alteration, the impact was immediate.

"I felt my fastball command was much better right out of the gate," Verlander said, who will close out the four-game set with the Blue Jays on Thursday.

• Sanchez, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, began a rehab assignment on Sunday and pitched in a simulated game.

Sanchez was scheduled to pitch for the Tigers' Class A squad, but the game was suspended because of the weather.

If all goes well, the Tigers righty could come off the disabled list and start against Cleveland on Saturday.

Worth noting
• Detroit and Toronto met for the only other time this season back in April. The Tigers went on to win that series 2-1, outscoring the Blue Jays 24-12.

• The Blue Jays are coming off a 10-game stretch against AL East opponents, going 5-5.

Evan Peaslee is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)

• RHP Anibal Sanchez (Right shoulder stiffness, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 16, 2013.)

• C Alex Avila (Left forearm injury, placed on the 15-day disabled list June 17, 2013.)

• LF Matt Tuiasosopo (Left strained intercostal, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20, 2013.)







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• TUE, Jul 02:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (6-5, 3.50 ERA)) AT
BLUE JAYS: (RHP Chien-Ming Wang (1-1, 5.24 ERA))
7:07  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• WED, Jul 03:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (12-0, 3.10 ERA)) AT
BLUE JAYS: (RHP Josh Johnson (1-2, 5.21 ERA))
7:07  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• THU, Jul 04:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (8-5, 3.77 ERA)) AT
BLUE JAYS: (RHP Esmil Rogers (3-3, 3.12 ERA))
7:07  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

 STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers off Dickey)

   Austin Jackson, CF (2-for-3, HR, walk)
   Torii Hunter, RF (6-for-12, 3 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B (5-for-15, HR, 2 walks)
   Prince Fielder, 1B (2-for-10, 2 K’s)
   Victor Martinez, DH (2-for-6, walk, 2 K’s)
   Jhonny Peralta, SS (2-for-12, 3 K’s)
   Omar Infante, 2B (13-for-28)
   Andy Dirks, LF (1-for-1, HR)
   Brayan Pena, C (1-for-1)

P: Jose Alvarez


BLUE JAYS

   Jose Reyes, SS
   Jose Bautista, RF
   Edwin Encarnacion, DH
   Mark DeRosa, 1B
   Rajai Davis, LF
   Colby Rasmus, CF
   Maicer Izturis, 3B
   Josh Thole, C
   Munenori Kawasaki, 2B

P: R.A. Dickey

DET - Top 1st
B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson lines out to second baseman Munenori Kawasaki.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Torii Hunter grounds out, pitcher R. A. Dickey to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Mark DeRosa.


TOR - Bot 1st
B:2 S:1 O:1
Jose Reyes grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Rajai Davis pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jose Bautista hits a ground-rule double (15) on a line drive to left field.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Mark DeRosa grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

 0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:1 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder flies out to left fielder Rajai Davis.
0 0
B:2 S:3 O:2
Victor Martinez strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Jhonny Peralta lines out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.


TOR - Bot 2nd
B:3 S:3 O:1
Colby Rasmus called out on strikes.

B:2 S:3 O:2
J. P. Arencibia called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Maicer Izturis singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Josh Thole walks. Maicer Izturis to 2nd.

With Munenori Kawasaki batting, Maicer Izturis advances to 3rd on a balk. Josh Thole advances to 2nd on a balk.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Munenori Kawasaki singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Maicer Izturis scores. Josh Thole out at home on the throw, left fielder Andy Dirks to catcher Brayan Pena.

 TOR 1-0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:1 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to left fielder Rajai Davis.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks grounds into a force out, first baseman Mark DeRosa to shortstop Jose Reyes. Omar Infante out at 2nd. Andy Dirks to 1st.

With Brayan Pena batting, wild pitch by R. A. Dickey, Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Brayan Pena walks.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Torii Hunter grounds into a force out, pitcher R. A. Dickey to second baseman Munenori Kawasaki. Brayan Pena out at 2nd.


TOR - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:1 O:0
Jose Reyes homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.
TOR 2-0

B:2 S:2 O:0
Rajai Davis doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

With Jose Bautista batting, Rajai Davis steals (20) 3rd base.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Jose Bautista walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Mark DeRosa strikes out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Colby Rasmus walks. Jose Bautista to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
J. P. Arencibia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Rajai Davis scores. Jose Bautista scores. Arencibia to 2nd. Colby Rasmus advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by left fielder Andy Dirks.
TOR 4-0

B:0 S:2 O:2
Maicer Izturis out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Austin Jackson. Colby Rasmus scores.
TOR 5-0

B:3 S:3 O:3
Josh Thole called out on strikes.

 TOR 5-0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder homers (14) on a fly ball to right field.
TOR 5-1

B:1 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez doubles (14) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Bautista.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Omar Infante hits a ground-rule double (17) on a fly ball to left field. Victor Martinez scores.
TOR 5-2

B:1 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks grounds out, pitcher R. Dickey to first baseman Mark DeRosa.


TOR - Bot 4th
Pitching Change: Luke Putkonen replaces Jose Alvarez.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Munenori Kawasaki grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jose Reyes flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Rajai Davis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter.

With Jose Bautista batting, Rajai Davis steals (21) 2nd base.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Jose Bautista walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Mark DeRosa homers (5) on a fly ball to right field. Rajai Davis scores. Jose Bautista scores.
TOR 8-2

B:1 S:3 O:3
Colby Rasmus strikes out swinging.

TOR 8-2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Brayan Pena grounds out, shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson hits a ground-rule double (10) on a line drive to right field.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Torii Hunter strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera pops out to shortstop Jose Reyes.


TOR - Bot 5th
B:2 S:3 O:1
J. P. Arencibia called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Maicer Izturis grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Josh Thole pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

 TOR 8-2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder grounds out, pitcher R. A. Dickey to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Munenori Kawasaki to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Jose Bautista.


TOR - Bot 6th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Munenori Kawasaki flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jose Reyes singles on a sharp ground ball to second baseman Omar Infante, deflected by first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Rajai Davis grounds into a force out, second baseman Omar Infante to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Jose Reyes out at 2nd. Rajai Davis to 1st.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Jose Bautista called out on strikes.

TOR 8-2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante singles on a line drive to center fielder Colby Rasmus.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks pops out to shortstop Jose Reyes.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Brayan Pena lines out to left fielder Rajai Davis.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.


TOR - Bot 7th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Mark DeRosa flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Colby Rasmus strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3
J. P. Arencibia called out on strikes.

 TOR 8-2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitching Change: Steve Delabar replaces R. A. Dickey.


B:0 S:3 O:1
Torii Hunter strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.


TOR - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Darin Downs replaces Luke Putkonen.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Maicer Izturis walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Josh Thole flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Munenori Kawasaki lines out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jose Reyes singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Maicer Izturis to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Rajai Davis flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

TOR 8-2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitching Change: Aaron Loup replaces Steve Delabar.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, pitcher Aaron Loup to first baseman Mark DeRosa.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Omar Infante homers (6) on a fly ball to center field.
TOR 8-3

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia replaces Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Avisail Garcia strikes out swinging.


TIGERS LOSE 3 - 8

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Dickey
L: Alvarez, Jo



Game Info

WP: Dickey.
Balk: Alvarez, Jo.
Pitches-strikes: Alvarez, Jo 70-39, Putkonen 57-40, Downs, D 14-9, Dickey 105-76, Delabar 13-9, Loup 14-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Alvarez, Jo 2-1, Putkonen 3-3, Downs, D 0-2, Dickey 9-3, Delabar 0-0, Loup 1-0.
Batters faced: Alvarez, Jo 17, Putkonen 16, Downs, D 5, Dickey 28, Delabar 3, Loup 4.
Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Alan Porter. 2B: Mike Estabrook. 3B: Jerry Layne.
Weather: 71 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 14 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:20.
Att: 45,766.
Venue: Rogers Centre.
July 1, 2013