GDT120: 8/15/13 - DET (70-49) VS KC (62-56) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (10-7, 2.58 ERA)

Sanchez has posted five consecutive starts of six or more innings and two or fewer runs, a stretch that began with a 1-0 loss to the Royals July 19. He's regaining his high-strikeout form with 19 over his last two outings.



Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (12-8, 4.10 ERA)

Guthrie got his pitch count up early but soldiered on through a career-high 123 pitches in six innings against Boston on Friday. He gave up five runs on 10 hits with one walk and five strikeouts. It was his first loss in five starts since the break.





Tigers, Royals to open key AL Central clash
Anibal, Guthrie duel in first of five games between rivals in Detroit

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 8/14/2013 8:11 PM ET

While it's generally unfair to say that any one game is more important than another over the course of a 162-game season, this long weekend in Detroit could help shape the rest of the race for the American League Central title.

The Tigers and Royals are set to square off for five games in four days, starting Thursday night at Comerica Park, with Anibal Sanchez facing Jeremy Guthrie. Detroit has a firm grasp on the division lead at this point, claiming a six-game edge over Cleveland and a 7 1/2-game margin over Kansas City.

A big push in this series could thrust the Royals right into the thick of things, while a dominant performance from the Tigers would only solidify their standing atop the division and diminish Kansas City's postseason hopes.

"We're taking it day by day right now," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "Really, these are our playoffs coming up right here. ... Pretty much every game here on out is a playoff game for us."

The Royals have won 19 of 26 games since the All-Star break, but they haven't been able to make much of a dent in the Tigers' lead. Why? Because Detroit has gone 18-7 during that stretch.

But Tigers manager Jim Leyland knows the Royals still could change things in a hurry.

"They're good. They're playing really good, we're playing good, Cleveland's been playing good for a stretch now," Leyland said. "That's the way it is."

Sanchez, taking the ball for Detroit, has been dominant in his last five starts, going 3-1 with a 1.60 ERA and a .189 opponents' average. That impressive stretch began against the Royals on July 19, his only start against Kansas City this season, when he allowed one run and struck out three over six innings.

Guthrie, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first Royals pitcher with 13 or more wins in a season since Zack Greinke posted 16 in 2009. He just saw his four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday, having allowed five runs on 10 hits over six innings against the Red Sox.

Guthrie is 7-3 with a 4.06 ERA over 16 appearances (13 starts) against the Tigers, but that includes a perfect 4-0 mark in five starts as a Royal and two victories over Detroit this season.

Royals: Bonifacio picked up in trade
• Kansas City made its second trade in four days for an infielder, acquiring the versatile Emilio Bonifacio from Toronto in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. The speedy switch-hitter hit .218 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 94 games for the Blue Jays, but isn't far removed from a 2011 campaign when he hit .296 for the Marlins.

"He's very versatile. He can play multiple positions -- infield, outfield. He can play second base, third base, all three outfield positions and is a switch-hitter," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "He has speed as well."

The Royals cleared a spot for Bonifacio on the 40-man roster by placing infielder Miguel Tejada on the 60-day disabled list, effectively bringing his season to an end. Kansas City acquired Jamey Carroll from Minnesota on Sunday.

• Although no announcement has been made, it appears the Royals will call up left-hander Danny Duffy to pitch one of the two games Friday at Detroit.

Tigers: Pena not surprised by Royals' success
• Catcher Brayan Pena is a former Royal, having spent 2009-12 in Kansas City, and said he keeps in touch with some of his former teammates. He noted, however, that "between those two lines, we're enemies."

With that said, Pena is not shocked that the Royals have emerged as a contender this year, agreeing that it was only a matter of time until the young players put it all together.

"Everybody knew that about them. Most of those guys were first-rounders. And they're no busts. It just takes time," Pena said. "It takes time and experience for them to reach the level that they're going to be -- but hopefully not this year or next year or some other time."

• The Tigers haven't officially named a starter for the second half of Friday's doubleheader, but lefty Jose Alvarez is likely to be recalled from Triple-A Toledo as the designated 26th man.

Worth noting
• Detroit's Victor Martinez (13-for-34) and Prince Fielder (12-for-38) extended their hitting streaks to eight games on Wednesday, each going 1-for-4.

• The Royals' 10-inning loss to the Marlins was the club's highest-rated broadcast ever on FOX Sports Kansas City, averaging a 12.3 household rating in the Kansas City market and peaking at 15.6. Royals telecasts on FSKC are averaging a 6.4 rating this season, an increase of 65 percent from last year.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. 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.) rehab assignment

• C Alex Avila (Delayed concussive symptoms., placed on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to August 11, 2013.)






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• FRI, Aug 16:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (12-8, 3.57 ERA)) VS
ROYALS: (RHP James Shields (7-8, 3.33 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• FRI, Aug 16:
TIGERS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)) VS
ROYALS: (LHP Danny Duffy (0-0, 4.91 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Aug 17:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (10-6, 3.60 ERA)) VS
ROYALS: (RHP Wade Davis (6-9, 5.29 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Aug 18:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (17-1, 2.85 ERA)) VS
ROYALS: (LHP Bruce Chen (5-0, 1.62 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers off Jeremy Guthrie)

   Andy Dirks, LF (5-for-16, 2 K’s)
   Torii Hunter, RF (10-for-32, 3 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B (11-for-32, 3 HR, 5 walks, 7 K’s)
   Prince Fielder, 1B (7-for-15, 2 walks)
   Victor Martinez, DH (6-for-20, 2 walks, K)
   Don Kelly, CF (3-for-13, 3 K’s)
   Omar Infante, 2B (3-for-10, HR)
   Brayan Pena, C (1-for-3, K)
   Jose Iglesias, SS

P: Anibal Sanchez

ROYALS (career numbers off Sanchez)

   Chris Getz, 2B (0-for-1, walk)
   Eric Hosmer, 1B (1-for-9)
   Billy Butler, DH (3-for-10, 2 K’s)
   Alex Gordon, LF (2-for-9, walk, K)
   Salvador Perez, C (0-for-5, walk, K)
   Justin Maxwell, RF (2-for-4, HR, K)
   Emilio Bonifacio, 3B (2-for-7, 2 K’s)
   Alcides Escobar, SS (3-for-10, 3 K’s)
   Jarrod Dyson, CF (1-for-7, 2 K’s)

P: Jeremy Guthrie

KC - Top 1st
B:3 S:2 O:0
Chris Getz singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:2 O:0
Eric Hosmer singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Chris Getz to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Billy Butler grounds into a double play, shortstop Jose Iglesias to second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Chris Getz to 3rd. Eric Hosmer out at 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Alex Gordon singles on a fly ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Chris Getz scores.

KC 1 - 0

With Salvador Perez batting, Alex Gordon steals (9) 2nd base.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Salvador Perez walks.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Justin Maxwell lines out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:1 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Justin Maxwell.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter pops out to first baseman Eric Hosmer in foul territory.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Justin Maxwell.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder homers (18) on a fly ball to right center field. Andy Dirks scores.

DET 2 - 1


B:0 S:0 O:3
Victor Martinez lines out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

DET 2 - 1 AFTER 1 INNING

KC - Top 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:0
Emilio Bonifacio singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

With Alcides Escobar batting, Emilio Bonifacio steals (13) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Alcides Escobar lines out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jarrod Dyson grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Chris Getz grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Omar Infante grounds out, third baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Don Kelly to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brayan Pena flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Jose Iglesias grounds out, third baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

DET 2 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

KC - Top 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Eric Hosmer grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Billy Butler flies out to center fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Gordon grounds out, first baseman Prince Fielder to pitcher Anibal Sanchez.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:0 O:0
Andy Dirks doubles (11) on a line drive to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter hit into a fielder's choice double play, pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to second baseman Chris Getz to third baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Andy Dirks out at 3rd. Torii Hunter out at 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

DET 2 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

KC - Top 4th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Justin Maxwell doubles (11) on a fly ball to center fielder Don Kelly.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Emilio Bonifacio grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder. Justin Maxwell to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Alcides Escobar grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder pops out to second baseman Chris Getz.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez doubles (27) on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Don Kelly strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Omar Infante grounds out, third baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

DET 2 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

KC - Top 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Jarrod Dyson flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Chris Getz singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Eric Hosmer pops out to catcher Brayan Pena in foul territory.

With Billy Butler batting, Chris Getz steals (11) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Billy Butler strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Brayan Pena singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Jose Iglesias ground bunts into a force out, pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Brayan Pena out at 2nd. Jose Iglesias to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks doubles (12) on a ground ball to right fielder Justin Maxwell. Jose Iglesias to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. Jose Iglesias scores. Andy Dirks to 3rd.
DET 3 - 1

B:2 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. Andy Dirks scores. Torii Hunter to 2nd.
DET 4 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Torii Hunter to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out, first baseman Eric Hosmer to pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.

DET 4 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

KC - Top 6th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Alex Gordon strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Justin Maxwell strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:2 O:1
Don Kelly grounds out, third baseman Emilio Bonifacio to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Brayan Pena singles on a ground ball to right fielder Justin Maxwell. Omar Infante to 3rd. Brayan Pena out at 2nd, right fielder Justin Maxwell to shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer to shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Jose Iglesias strikes out swinging.

DET 4 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

KC - Top 7th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Emilio Bonifacio called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Alcides Escobar grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Jarrod Dyson strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 7th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Justin Maxwell.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds into a double play, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Andy Dirks to 3rd. Torii Hunter out at 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Prince Fielder flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

DET 4 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

KC - Top 8th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Chris Getz lines out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Eric Hosmer singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Bruce Rondon replaces Anibal Sanchez.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Billy Butler flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Alex Gordon pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.


DET - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Louis Coleman replaces Jeremy Guthrie.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Justin Maxwell.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Omar Infante flies out to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

DET 4 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

KC - Top 9th
Defensive Substitution: Austin Jackson replaces left fielder Andy Dirks, batting 1st, playing center field.

Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces third baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 3rd, playing third base.

Defensive switch from center field to left field for Don Kelly.

Pitching Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Bruce Rondon.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Justin Maxwell walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Emilio Bonifacio lines out to shortstop Jose Iglesias.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alcides Escobar grounds out, third baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder.


TIGERS WIN 4-1

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Sanchez, An
L: Guthrie
S: Benoit


Game Info

Pitches-strikes: Guthrie 104-70, Coleman 8-6, Sanchez, An 115-81, Rondon, B 9-5, Benoit 14-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Guthrie 10-3, Coleman 0-3, Sanchez, An 10-2, Rondon, B 0-1, Benoit 2-0.
Batters faced: Guthrie 31, Coleman 3, Sanchez, An 29, Rondon, B 2, Benoit 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Rondon, B 1-0.
Umpires: HP: John Hirschbeck. 1B: James Hoye. 2B: Quinn Wolcott. 3B: Bob Davidson.
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:24.
Att: 37,872.
Venue: Comerica Park.
August 15, 2013