GDT: 6/2/10 - DET (26-25) VS CLE (19-31) - 7:05 p.m. ET
We must win Tonight! Me Really Mad!
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Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland IndiansWednesday, June 2, 2010Comerica Park, Detroit, MIGame Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT
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Galarraga, Carmona trying to regain formBy Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
A day after the Dontrelle Willis experiment came to a close with the left-hander being traded to Arizona, the Tigers will look to move on with right-hander Armando Galarraga taking the mound on Wednesday against the Indians and right-hander Fausto Carmona.
Galarraga is essentially Willis' replacement in the rotation, as he was expected to be sent to the Minors when right-hander Max Scherzer was recalled on Sunday, but instead Willis was designated for assignment before being traded to the D-backs in exchange for right-hander Billy Buckner on Tuesday.
Galarraga, though, has only made three appearances this season and struggled in his last start on May 22, when the Dodgers roughed him up for five runs over 4 2/3 innings in Los Angeles.
But Tigers manager Jim Leyland is sticking with Galarraga in the rotation and thinks he knows what has plagued the right-hander this season.
"He's got to use both sides of the plate better," Leyland said. "He's got to use his changeup some. He's got to continue to stay on top of his slider. His slider was not good the last time he started. He ought to be able to give you enough outs to be a big league pitcher and get some wins for you."
Galarraga, who is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA this season, also had some troubles last season when he posted a 5.64 ERA in 143 2/3 innings after an impressive 2008 campaign, when he went 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 178 2/3 innings.
Leyland chalked up Galarraga's recent struggles to not making adjustments, and he needs to regain his slider that made him so effective two seasons ago.
"He had a real good slider and he was an unknown," Leyland said of Galarraga's '08 season. "Galarraga is what he is. He's basically a sinker, slider and changeup pitcher. That's what he is. There's nothing wrong with that. There are a lot of successful ones."
Carmona is also trying to regain his previous form but with much more success this season. The right-hander had a breakout season in 2007, when he won 19 games with a 3.06 ERA, but he followed it up with a combined 5.89 ERA over '08 and '09.
Carmona, though, has been solid this season, with a 4-3 record and 3.69 ERA over his first 10 starts, and has gone at least six innings in all but one of his outings. He last started against the Yankees on Friday and kept the Indians in the game by allowing four runs over six innings before the bullpen faltered in an 8-2 loss.
"I thought Fausto battled really well," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "You can't complain about the effort he gave us."
Indians: Marson improving offensively and defensivelyCatcher Lou Marson has seen improvements behind the plate, both offensively and defensively, after starting out the season with a .088 batting average on April 27. He's thrown out 12 of the 34 runners who have tried to steal off him, the best percentage (35.3) in the American League, and has hit .268 (22-for-82) over his past 26 games. "He was more defensive," Acta said. "He's been more aggressive [lately]."
Tigers: Buckner to start out at Triple-AMuch like Willis, Buckner has struggled this season with an 11.08 ERA in three starts and was immediately optioned to Triple-A Toledo after the trade. But Buckner showed promise over his last five starts of the season last year when he went 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA. His biggest problem has been that he has had a tough time getting through big league lineups a third time, and has a career 6.25 ERA as a result. "It's the defining characteristic of a starter in the big leagues -- he has to be able to do that," former manager A.J. Hinch said on Monday.
Worth notingFormer Major League pitcher Jeriome Robertson, who made eight appearances with the Indians in 2004, died late Saturday night following a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Exeter, Calif. Robertson, who was traded to the Indians for Luke Scott and the rights to Willy Taveras, lost control of his 2007 Yamaha Warrior while making a 70-mph turn, according to the Visalia Times-Delta.
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Pitching matchupDET: RHP Armando Galarraga (1-1, 4.50 ERA)The Tigers chose Galarraga to stick in the rotation over Dontrelle Willis, who was designated for assignment over the weekend. Now, Galarraga will try to back up the vote of confidence on the mound when he starts for the first time in a week and a half. His future was in serious question after the Dodgers roughed him up over four-plus innings May 22 in Los Angeles. He had an extended side session last Wednesday in which he tried to work on his slider, his workhorse pitch that needs more consistency, then took it into a relief outing Friday against Oakland with some effectiveness. Galarraga earned three of his 13 wins in 2008 at Cleveland's expense, but lost all three of his meetings with the Indians last year.
Indians: RHP Fausto Carmona (4-3, 3.69 ERA) Carmona hung in there against the Yankees in a loss Friday night, but he had some issues with control that hurt him and ran up his pitch count. He needed 34 pitches to get through the sixth inning, and with his count over 100 after that point, he wasn't able to take it any further. He gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings. The good news is that Carmona has gone at least six innings in all but one of his 10 starts this season. He's generally been able to keep the Indians in games. This is his first start against the Tigers this season.
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From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 3-2 loss to the Indians last night at Comerica Park. Jeremy Bonderman (2-3) took the loss for Detroit after surrendering three runs in eight innings of work. Carlos Guillen and Alex Avila both finished with run-scoring singles for the Tigers, while Miguel Cabrera added a single and double. The Tigers continue a seven-game homestand with the second game of three-game series this evening against Cleveland. Following tomorrow afternoon’s game, the club hits the road for a six-game trip to Kansas City and Chicago.
CABRERA, VERLANDER EARN TIGERS HONORS FOR MAY: Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander have been tabbed the Tigers Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for May. Cabrera batted .344 (31x90) with 17 runs scored, five doubles, nine home runs and 23 RBI in 24 games during the month. He finished fourth in the American League with nine home runs during May. Verlander compiled a 4-2 record, 2.64 ERA (44.1IP/13ER) and 41 strikeouts in six starts during the month. He tied for third among all league pitchers with 41 strikeouts during the month, while he tied for fifth with four wins and finished seventh with a 2.64 ERA.
RACKING UP THE WINS OVER CLEVELAND AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers have won 10 of the club’s last 12 games over the Indians at Comerica Park dating back to May 2, 2009, including seven of the last eight contests.
RECENT SUCCESS VERSUS THE INDIANS: Since the start of the 2009 season, the Tigers have compiled an 18-6 record against the Cleveland Indians. Detroit is third among all major league clubs with a 3.34 ERA (221.0IP/82ER) versus the Indians since the start of the 2009 season.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE TRIBE: Since joining the Tigers in 2008, Miguel Cabrera is hitting .335 (57x170) with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 42 games against the Cleveland Indians. He is tops among all active major league players with 38 RBI versus the Indians during that stretch, while he is tied for the lead with 11 home runs.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 20 outings for the Tigers, tossing 19.2 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a 0.44 ERA, while he is second with a .134 batting average against and tied for seventh with 11 saves.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .379 (22x58) with 13 runs scored, a double, three home runs and 11 RBI over his last 16 games dating back to May 13. He is fifth among all American League players with a .379 batting average and .456 on-base percentage during that stretch.
LOOKING AT THE ROOKIE LEADERS: Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch have both enjoyed success during their rookie campaigns. Jackson is tops among all American League rookies with a .324 batting average, 33 runs scored and 66 hits. Boesch is leading all league rookies with 22 RBI, while he is second with a .318 batting average, 35 hits and four home runs.
FOR STARTERS: Tigers starting pitchers have compiled a 3.47 ERA (119.1IP/46ER) over the club’s last 19 games, while limiting opponents to a .243 batting average (109x448). Club starting pitchers have posted 10 quality starts during the stretch.
BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-6 record and 2.86 ERA (160.1IP/50ER) through the club’s first 51 games this season. Tigers relievers lead the American League with a 2.86 ERA, while the club is second with 11 victories and tied for third with 160.1 innings pitched.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 47 of the club’s 51 games this season. Detroit is sixth among all American League clubs with 163 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, Detroit is third in the league with 113 doubles.
FURBUSH, LENNERTON EARN LEAGUE HONORS: Single A Lakeland lefthanded pitcher Charlie Furbush was tabbed the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for May 24-30, while Single A West Michigan first baseman Jordan Lennerton was selected the Midwest League Player of the Week for the same time period. Furbush went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA (14.0IP/3ER) and 22 strikeouts in two starts during the week for the Flying Tigers. Lennerton hit .583 (14x24) with five doubles and five RBI in seven games during the week for the Whitecaps.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Thursday, June 3Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (4-5, 5.27 ERA))
VS Indians (LHP
David Huff (2-6, 5.54 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Friday, June 4Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (2-4, 6.42 ERA))
at Royals (LHP
Bruce Chen (1-0, 2.70 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Saturday, June 5Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (5-4, 3.75 ERA))
at Royals (RHP
Luke Hochevar (5-3, 5.10 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
• Sunday, June 6Tigers (RHP
Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 3.72 ERA))
at Royals (RHP
Brian Bannister (5-3, 4.73 ERA)),
2:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)
Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:41 pm
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