GDT: 8/30/09 - DET (68-60) VS TB (70-58) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander has spent a large portion of the summer on the fringe of the American League Cy Young Award debate, following faster starters such as Kansas City's Zack Greinke, Boston's Josh Beckett and the Yankees' CC Sabathia. Sunday could be his chance to vault into the center of conversation.

With Beckett's winless streak now up to three starts, all of them rough outings, and Sabathia taking a rare no-decision in his last outing Friday against the White Sox, Verlander could move into a tie for the AL lead in wins with a victory Sunday against the Rays. Add in his still-imposing lead among AL pitchers in strikeouts, and he could have a share of two-thirds of the pitching Triple Crown, to go with a 3.38 ERA that stands seventh in the league among pitchers with enough innings to qualify.

Considering the Tigers' offensive struggles for most of this season, Verlander and fellow starter Edwin Jackson are going to get a good share of credit if Detroit wins the AL Central to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2006. A well-pitched game Sunday against the defending AL champions and Wild Card contenders could go a long way on that front, too.

Four pitchers have topped the Junior Circuit in strikeouts and wins in the same season since Detroit's Mickey Lolich in 1971. Lolich is the last of them to not win a Cy Young Award. But then, all four since Lolich -- Johan Santana in '06, Pedro Martinez in '99, and Roger Clemens in '97 and '98 -- took the AL wins and strikeouts lead along with an ERA title to complete the Triple Crown.

Verlander isn't likely to gain enough in ERA to bridge that gap, especially considering that two of the pitchers in front of him are teammates -- Jackson and Jarrod Washburn. Still, Verlander could present an interesting consideration for voters at year's end.

Verlander's performance in big games adds to his resume. His eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Aug. 13 essentially salvaged one victory out of that four-game series with a 2-0 decision. A complete-game six-hitter against the White Sox on July 24 set the tone for a doubleheader sweep to start off that four-game, three-day set. His seven strong innings at Yankee Stadium on July 18 at least gave Detroit a shot before two runs sent him down to defeat.

If the Tigers are going to do more than split their four-game series with the Rays, and continue their dominant record at home, they'll need a win Sunday to set them up for it with Monday's wraparound series finale.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (14-7, 3.38 ERA)
Verlander will make his first start since his much-replayed argument with catcher Gerald Laird in the visiting dugout at Angel Stadium following a four-run sixth inning that saw him knocked out of the game. Verlander got the win anyway, considering he had a 10-run lead entering the inning, but manager Jim Leyland called it a lesson for his young ace on how to approach a game in which he's comfortably ahead. Verlander beat the Rays in his only meeting with them last year, in his season finale.

TB: RHP Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.87 ERA)
Niemann pitched a flawed masterpiece at Toronto on Monday night, when he survived a five-run second inning to pitch 6 1/3 innings, besting Roy Halladay in the process to pick up his team-leading 12th win of the season. Niemann allowed a grand slam to Rod Barajas and appeared ready for an early shower against the Blue Jays, but he managed to find some reserve of toughness to get him through the rest of the outing. Niemann stands 6-foot-9, which creates a difficult downward angle for opposing hitters. He is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in one career appearance against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Carl Crawford is 5-for-9 (.556) lifetime against Verlander, while B.J. Upton is 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and a three-run homer.
... Armando Galarraga is scheduled to throw a side session Sunday that should determine how soon he can resume pitching. Galarraga played catch Friday but wasn't quite ready to progress. An MRI exam taken by doctors earlier in the week showed no structural damage in his inflamed left elbow.
... Dontrelle Willis is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday against Indianapolis. It would be his first outing since a sore right hip knocked him out in the second inning against Columbus on Aug. 19.
... Speaking of rehab outings, Jeremy Bonderman gave up two hits and struck out two in his inning of relief for the Mud Hens on Friday.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 9-7, 3.23 ERA) vs. Rays (James Shields, 8-10, 3.81 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 10-6, 2.96 ERA) vs. Indians (David Huff, 8-7, 6.57 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 11-8, 4.27 ERA) vs. Indians (Aaron Laffey, 7-3, 3.40 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

RAYS

1. Jason Bartlett, SS
   
2. Carl Crawford, LF
   
3. Ben Zobrist, RF
   
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
   
5. Pat Burrell, DH
   
6. Evan Longoria, 3B
   
7. Gregg Zaun, C
   
8. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
   
9. B.J. Upton, CF
   

P: Jeff Niemann

TIGERS

1. Granderson, CF
   
2. Polanco, 2B
   
3. Guillen, LF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Huff, DH
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Thomas, RF
   
8. Laird, C
   
9. Santiago, SS
   

SP: Justin Verlander

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Bartlett hit by pitch.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Carl Crawford batting, Jason Bartlett caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Ramon Santiago.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Carl Crawford flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ben Zobrist singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Pena flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco pops out to second baseman Akinori Iwamura.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Pat Burrell swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Evan Longoria grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Gregg Zaun pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out sharply to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to left fielder Carl Crawford.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Akinori Iwamura grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
B. J. Upton doubles (29) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bartlett walks.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - Carl Crawford grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. B. J. Upton
to 3rd. Jason Bartlett out at 2nd. Carl Crawford to 1st.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
With Ben Zobrist batting, Carl Crawford steals (55) 2nd base.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist called out on .

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Clete Thomas singles on a line drive to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena. Clete Thomas to 2nd.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Curtis Granderson singles on a line
drive to left fielder Carl Crawford. Clete Thomas scores. Curtis
Granderson out at 2nd on the throw, left fielder Carl Crawford to third
baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena.
DET 1, TB 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Pena pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Pat Burrell walks.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Evan Longoria homers (25) on a line drive to left field. Pat Burrell scores.
TB 2, DET 1




B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Gregg Zaun swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Akinori Iwamura homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. TB 3, DET 1




B:2 S:0 O:3 -
B. J. Upton grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 3, DET 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena.

TB 3, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Bartlett walks.


B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Carl Crawford singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Jason Bartlett to 2nd.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Pena flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Jason Bartlett to 3rd. Carl Crawford to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Pat Burrell flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.

TB 3, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to left fielder Carl Crawford.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a line drive to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to catcher Gregg Zaun in foul territory.

TB 3, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Evan Longoria flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Gregg Zaun grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Akinori Iwamura flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

TB 3, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago lines out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson lines out to left fielder Carl Crawford.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Carlos Pena.

TB 3, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
B. J. Upton singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bartlett flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Carl Crawford flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
With Ben Zobrist batting, B. J. Upton caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Ramon Santiago.


TB 3, DET 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Aubrey Huff doubles (25) on a line drive to center fielder B. J. Upton.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge grounds out to first baseman Carlos Pena.

TB 3, DET 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ben Zobrist flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Pena flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Pat Burrell pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

TB 3, DET 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 - Clete Thomas doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Ben Zobrist.

B:1 S:2 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Magglio Ordonez replaces Gerald Laird.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Grant Balfour replaces Jeff Niemann.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Ben Zobrist. Clete Thomas to 3rd.

B:0 S:3 O:2 - Ramon Santiago swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:2 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:4 S:1 O:2 - Curtis Granderson walks.


B:2 S:0 O:2 - Placido Polanco homers (8) on a fly ball to left field. Clete Thomas scores. Curtis Granderson scores.
DET 4, TB 3

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Carlos Guillen pops out to third baseman Evan Longoria.

DET 4, TB 3 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces left fielder Carlos Guillen, batting 3rd, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Alex Avila replaces Magglio Ordonez, batting 8th, playing catcher.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Justin Verlander.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Evan Longoria flies out to right fielder Clete Thomas.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Gregg Zaun singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Gabe Kapler replaces Gregg Zaun.


B:1 S:0 O:2 - Akinori Iwamura grounds into a force
out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Gabe
Kapler out at 2nd. Akinori Iwamura to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
B. J. Upton grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET wins 4, TB 3

August 30, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0		3	7	0
Detroit	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	X		4	6	0

Tampa Bay AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Bartlett, SS 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 .337 Crawford, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .312 Zobrist, RF 4 0 1 0 0 2 4 .288 Pena, C, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .218 Burrell, DH 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .239 Longoria, 3B 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 .267 Zaun, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .258 --1-Kapler, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 Iwamura, 2B 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .311 Upton, B, CF 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .241 Totals 32 3 7 3 3 4 15 1-Ran for Zaun in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Upton, B (29, Verlander). HR: Longoria (25, 4th inning off Verlander, 1 on, 1 out), Iwamura (1, 4th inning off Verlander, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Crawford; Zobrist; Longoria 4; Zaun; Iwamura 4; Upton, B 3. RBI: Longoria 2 (90), Iwamura (17). 2-out RBI: Iwamura. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Zobrist 2; Burrell 2. Team RISP: 0-for-5. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Crawford (55, 2nd base off Verlander/Laird). CS: Upton, B (13, 2nd base by Verlander/Laird), Bartlett (5, 2nd base by Verlander/Laird). FIELDING Outfield assists: Crawford (Granderson at 2nd base).		Detroit AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 .258 Polanco, 2B 4 1 1 3 0 0 0 .268 Guillen, C, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 --Raburn, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .335 Huff, A, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .243 Inge, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .240 Thomas, C, RF 3 2 3 0 0 0 0 .250 Laird, C 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .225 --a-Ordonez, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275 --Avila, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 Santiago, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .254 Totals 29 4 6 4 1 4 6 a-Flied out for Laird in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Huff, A (25, Niemann), Thomas, C (10, Niemann). HR: Polanco (8, 8th inning off Balfour, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson; Polanco 4; Huff, A 2; Thomas, C 4. RBI: Granderson (59), Polanco 3 (58). 2-out RBI: Granderson; Polanco 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Inge. Team RISP: 2-for-6. Team LOB: 2.
Tampa Bay IP --H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR -ERA- Niemann 7.0 5 2 2 0 3 0 3.80 Balfour (BS, 3)(L, 5-3) 1.0 1 2 2 1 1 1 4.45		Detroit IP --H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Verlander (W, 15-7) 8.0 6 3 3 3 4 2 3.38 Rodney (S, 29) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.28
Niemann pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. HBP: Bartlett (by Verlander). Pitches-strikes: Niemann 96-64, Balfour 17-10, Verlander 125-86, Rodney 13-7. Groundouts-flyouts: Niemann 7-10, Balfour 0-2, Verlander 5-13, Rodney 2-1. Batters faced: Niemann 25, Balfour 5, Verlander 32, Rodney 4. Inherited runners-scored: Balfour 1-1. Umpires: HP: Mike Everitt. 1B: Brian Gorman. 2B: Gerry Davis. 3B: CB Bucknor. Weather: 61 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, L to R. T: 2:30. Att: 36,067. August 30, 2009