GDT: 5/2/10 - DET (15-10) vs LAA (12-13) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Halos hoping to catch Verlander during slide

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

Has the real Justin Verlander arrived?

That's what the Tigers are hoping as they send their ace to the mound on Sunday to try and finish off a sweep of the Angels and give Detroit its fifth win in a row.

After taking the first two of this series from last year's American League West champions, the Tigers would love nothing more than to see the Verlander of old on the mound. In his last start, against the Twins, Verlander got the loss and threw 121 pitches in 5 2/3 innings of work, but he also struck out seven, allowed just four hits and gave up only one unearned run. Considering he had yielded 24 hits and 17 earned runs over his first 22 innings (6.95 ERA), it appears like it might be a step in the right direction.

"I'm always somebody who's been able to make adjustments pretty quickly," Verlander said following that last start against the Twins. "We noticed a little something after my last start that was leading to me flying open. Tweaked it a little bit. For the most part, I was able to establish what I wanted to with that mechanical adjustment. There were some situations where I went back to old habit, but for the most part I was right where I wanted to be and definitely happy with the way the ball's coming out of my hand, the way I was throwing the ball besides a handful of pitches."

If this follows the same pattern as a year ago, no one in Detroit will complain. Verlander was similarly battered over his first four starts in 2009, staring at a 9.00 ERA after 21 innings of work. Start No. 5 was seven innings of scoreless ball and Verlander never looked back. After that sluggish four-start kickoff, the right-hander went 19-7 with a 2.92 ERA. He was an All-Star and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting.

"It's funny the way minor things, as you go farther in the game, it's the little things that get amplified," Verlander said. "Very small adjustments, fine-tuning things can throw you off. At this level, when you're just off a little bit like I was, throwing balls like I feel should be away, they're running back to the middle of the plate. Or balls that I feel like should be in, they're running off the plate. At this level, guys are going to take advantage of that."

The Angels hope they can take advantage of any latent Verlander errors that still remain. They've hit him pretty well over the course of his career (He's got a 5.10 ERA in seven starts) and while they lost the game, they did manage four runs over five innings against him back on April 22. Trying to salvage one game from this series might seem more possible given that it will be Jered Weaver on the hill for Los Angeles.

Weaver (3-0, 2.53 ERA) has kicked off his season with five straight quality starts, including a one-run, six-inning outing against the Indians his last time out. He faced the Tigers the day before Verlander pitched, on April 21, and got the no-decision in that one despite allowing just two runs over seven innings. While he's 2-2 with a 6.34 ERA in six starts against the Tigers, he did win his lone start at Comerica Park, back in 2008.

Angels: A change in starting pattern?

While no one is thrilled with a loss, Saturday's defeat may have at least changed a pattern that had plagued Angels starters over the first month of the season.

Before Saturday, Los Angeles' rotation had a 2.48 ERA with a .225 batting average against in the team's 12 wins. In the dozen losses, it's been a very different story: a 7.41 ERA and .340 BAA.

Saturday broke that trend. Scott Kazmir went six strong innings, allowing two runs (just one earned), a sign that things might be different in May, both for the Angels and for Kazmir, who did not pitch particularly well in the season's opening month.

Tigers: Top o' the order to ya

Johnny Damon's walk-off homer on Saturday was just the latest in a long run of production for the Tigers' No. 2 hitter. After his 3-for-5 afternoon, Damon has hit safely in 18 of his past 19 games. He's hit .418 (28-for-67) over that time span with 16 runs scored and nine doubles.

He's also driven in 10 runs during that stretch and a big reason for that might be what Austin Jackson has been doing as the Tigers' leadoff hitter. With a hit in Saturday's game, Jackson has now reached base in 19 straight games. He's hit .383 over that time with 17 runs scored and four stolen bases.

Worth noting

The starting pitcher duality has carried over to the offense. In the Angels' 12 wins, the team has hit .306 with runners in scoring position. In the 13 losses, after Saturday's 2-for-6, they've hit just .204.

... The Tigers' three innings of scoreless relief work is nothing new. Detroit's bullpen has a 1.11 ERA over the past 14 games.



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (1-2, 5.53 ERA)
The immediate result from Verlander's last outing was a hard-luck loss Tuesday against the Twins, with two unearned runs allowed, but the long-term result could well be a return to the Verlander domination of last year. A tweak in his mechanics brought better command, plus the finishing pitches that allowed him to rack up seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings and hold Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer hitless. Though his pitch count still sits remarkably high -- his 19.4 pitches per innings ranked near the top of AL starters -- he was quietly encouraged. That said, he has topped 120 pitches in each of his past two outings, and he won't have an extra day in between starts.


LAA: RHP Jered Weaver (3-0, 2.53 ERA)
Weaver turned in his fifth straight quality start when he allowed just one run on seven hits over six innings against the Indians on Monday at Angel Stadium. He didn't have his best command -- he needed 106 pitches to get through six innings --- but still struck out seven batters and walked just one. The right-hander last pitched against the Tigers on April 21, when he allowed just two runs over seven innings but was saddled with a no-decision. He is 2-2 with a 6.34 ERA in six career starts against Detroit and 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in one career start at Comerica Park.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday, May 3:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 4.23 ERA)) at Twins (RHP Scott Baker (2-2, 5.72 ERA)), 8:10 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Tuesday, May 4:
Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 3.75 ERA)) at Twins (RHP Nick Blackburn (1-1, 6.85 ERA)), 8:10 PM ET (FSD PLUS / 1270)

• Wednesday, May 5:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (2-2, 8.03 ERA)) at Twins (RHP Kevin Slowey (3-2, 3.77 ERA)), 1:10 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

LA Angels AVG
Aybar, E, SS .253
Abreu, B, RF .286
Hunter, CF .314
Matsui, H, DH .272
Morales, K, 1B .315
Kendrick, H, 2B .291
Napoli, C .196
Wood, B, 3B .197
Willits, LF .133
Totals .264

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .356
Damon, DH .344
Ordonez, RF .293
Cabrera, M, 1B .343
Boesch, LF .261
Inge, 3B .255
Avila, C .097
Sizemore, 2B .246
Santiago, SS .319
Totals .280

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Erick Aybar lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


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


Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Austin Jackson doubles (7) on a soft line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.


B:3 S:0 O:0 -
With Johnny Damon batting, wild pitch by Jered Weaver, Austin Jackson to 3rd.


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon called out on .


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Kendry Morales flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Napoli swinging.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, pitcher Jered Weaver to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to left fielder Reggie Willits.



B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Scott Sizemore called out on .

0-0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Wood lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Reggie Willits bunt grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Erick Aybar grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Justin Verlander.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Reggie Willits.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Johnny Damon called out on .


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

0-0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu grounds out sharply, pitcher Justin Verlander to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Torii Hunter lines out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Hideki Matsui grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

0-0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Kendry Morales flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Howard Kendrick grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3 - Mike Napoli swinging.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 - Alex Avila singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:2 O:0 - Scott Sizemore singles on a ground ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Alex Avila to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:0 - Ramon Santiago singles on a fly ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Alex Avila scores. Scott Sizemore to 3rd.

DET 1, LAA 0


B:2 S:2 O:0 - With Austin Jackson batting, wild pitch by Jered Weaver, Scott Sizemore scores. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

DET 2, LAA 0


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


B:2 S:2 O:1 - Austin Jackson grounds out softly, pitcher Jered Weaver to first baseman Kendry Morales. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Johnny Damon grounds out to first baseman Kendry Morales.


B:4 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter. Ramon Santiago scores. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

DET 3, LAA 0

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


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Jason Bulger replaces Jered Weaver.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Brennan Boesch doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Magglio Ordonez scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

DET 4, LAA 0

B:3 S:3 O:3 - Brandon Inge swinging.

DET 4, LAA 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Wood lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Reggie Willits flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Erick Aybar swinging.

DET 4, LAA 0 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Alex Avila doubles (2) on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Jason Bulger to first baseman Kendry Morales. Alex Avila to 3rd.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to third baseman Brandon Wood.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter. Alex Avila scores.

DET 5, LAA 0

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Johnny Damon lines out to left fielder Reggie Willits.

DET 5, LAA 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 5th, playing left field.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Hideki Matsui flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

DET 5, LAA 0 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Stokes replaces Jason Bulger.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to left fielder Reggie Willits.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Don Kelly pops out to catcher Mike Napoli in foul territory.

DET 5, LAA 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Kendry Morales swinging.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Napoli swinging.

DET 5, LAA 0 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Scot Shields replaces Brian Stokes.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge lines out to center fielder Torii Hunter.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila walks.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore singles on a line drive to left fielder Reggie Willits. Alex Avila to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago reaches on fielding error by pitcher Scot Shields. Alex Avila to 3rd. Scott Sizemore to 2nd.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Jackson on foul tip.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 5, LAA 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 - Brandon Wood called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Maicer Izturis replaces Reggie Willits.

B:2 S:1 O:1 - Maicer Izturis singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - With Erick Aybar batting, Maicer Izturis advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - Erick Aybar singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Maicer Izturis scores.

DET 5, LAA 1


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

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Justin Verlander.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - With Bobby Abreu batting, Erick Aybar advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:3 S:1 O:1 - Bobby Abreu singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Erick Aybar to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Torii Hunter flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - With Hideki Matsui batting, Bobby Abreu advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Hideki Matsui grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET 5, LAA 1 FINAL SCORE

TIGERS SWEEP THE ANGELS

WP: Weaver, Jr 2.
Pitches-strikes: Weaver, Jr 107-65, Bulger 25-17, Stokes 7-7, Shields, S 27-18, Verlander 120-86, Valverde 12-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Weaver, Jr 5-3, Bulger 1-1, Stokes 0-2, Shields, S 1-0, Verlander 8-6, Valverde 1-1.
Batters faced: Weaver, Jr 22, Bulger 7, Stokes 3, Shields, S 6, Verlander 28, Valverde 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Bulger 2-1, Valverde 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Ed Hickox. 1B: Marty Foster. 2B: Brian Runge. 3B: Gary Cederstrom.
Weather: 69 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, R to L.
T: 2:43.
Att: 25,603.