GDT: 10/1/10 - GM 2 - DET (80-79) AT BAL (64-95) - ABT 7:45 PM ET

Orioles, Tigers to play two on Friday

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com

A game delayed, but not a game denied. The Orioles and Tigers will play a doubleheader on Friday in order to make up for the game that was rained out on Thursday night, and they'll have some intriguing pitching matchups to show for it. Detroit is playing to avoid a losing record, while Baltimore is hoping to finish strong under manager Buck Showalter.

Detroit will go into the final series of the year with a three-game losing streak courtesy of a loss on Monday and a doubleheader sweep in Cleveland on Wednesday. The Tigers have won 17 of their last 26 games against the Orioles, though, and will go into the double-dip on a pitching streak that has seen them throw 22 quality starts in their last 37 games.

The Tigers' rotation has pitched to a 17-7 record and a 3.41 ERA in that span, but it wasn't enough to keep them in the playoff race. They can assure a winning season, though, by taking two of the four games in this series. Jeremy Bonderman will get the first chance to lift Detroit to that level, and he'll be matched against Baltimore starter Chris Tillman.

Bonderman has a 3-3 record and 5.74 ERA in the second half, but more important, he's proven that he can hold up to the strain of starting again. The right-hander missed much of the 2009 season while dealing with a rare injury called thoracic outlet compression syndrome, and he's been able to answer the call and take 28 starts for Detroit this season.

Tillman, meanwhile, is a highly regarded prospect who has struggled to establish himself in the Majors. The 22-year-old threw a no-hitter and a one-hitter while pitching to a 11-7 record and a 3.34 for Triple-A Norfolk, but he hasn't has the same success in the Majors. Tillman, who has just one win in 10 starts with the Orioles, has completed six innings in two of his last four starts.

The Orioles, who are 31-22 under Showalter, can boast of their own pitching streak. Their rotation has thrown 32 quality starts since Showalter took over, and they have 76 quality starts, compared with just 58 last season. Baltimore is 13-4 in series openers with Showalter at the helm and has won nine series with its new manager after taking four before he arrived.

Baltimore will go to Jeremy Guthrie in the second game of the doubleheader, and he'll be trying to punctuate a sterling second half that has seen him post a 7-4 record and 3.00 ERA. The former first-round draftee has logged an ERA under 4.50 in four of the last five months, but he's just 6-7 with a 4.11 ERA this season at Camden Yards.

Detroit will counter with Rick Porcello, another pitcher with a first-round pedigree who has rescued his season with a strong half. The right-hander logged a 6.14 ERA before the All-Star break, and he's cut it two runs (4.08) after the intermission. Porcello has completed seven innings in six of his last eight starts, and Detroit has won six times in a row with him on the mound.

Tigers: Damon doubles up for milestone
Johnny Damon reached an interesting endurance-related milestone on Wednesday, when he played in both ends of Detroit's doubleheader against Cleveland. Those two games brought him past the 140-game threshold for the 15th straight season, a feat accomplished by just four players -- Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Pete Rose and Willie Mays -- before him.

Orioles: A tale of two halves for Markakis
Nick Markakis is suffering through one of the lowest RBI totals of his career, but he's showed an interesting split in the last few months. Markakis, who drove in just 31 runs in his first 94 games, has 26 RBIs in 61 games since leadoff man Brian Roberts returned to the lineup. Roberts missed much of the first half while fighting a strained abdominal muscle.

Roberts sat out Baltimore's last game, but he's hit safely in seven of his last eight starts. The second baseman reached base safely in 25 consecutive games earlier this month, a streak that was snapped on Sept. 15.

Worth noting
The Tigers are 12-8 in their last 20 games.

... Detroit is hitting .284 with 129 runs scored and 29 home runs in its last 26 games against the Orioles.

... Detroit's rookies have 512 hits this season, the most for the Tigers since first-year players logged 590 hits in 1929.

... The Tigers are 12-4 on Thursday and just 11-12 on Friday.

... The Orioles are 12-20 in games decided by two runs. Baltimore is also 9-68 when it scores fewer than four runs and 53-27 when it scores four or more.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Rick Porcello (10-11, 5.01 ERA)
After all the ups and downs of Porcello's sophomore season, including a stint in Toledo, he has a chance to end it with a .500 record and a sub-5.00 ERA. All he needs is a solid outing and some run support in his first start at Camden Yards.

ORIOLES: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 3.98 ERA)
Guthrie has been the ace of the Orioles staff and will look to end a resurgent campaign on a high note. The right-hander has already eclipsed his second consecutive 200-inning season.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers game at Baltimore last night was postponed due to rain. The Tigers suffered the loss in both games of a doubleheader at Cleveland on Wednesday, falling 4-0 and 4-3. Max Scherzer (12-11) took the loss for Detroit in the first game of the doubleheader, while Justin Verlander (18-9) suffered the loss in the second game despite fanning 10 batters in seven innings of work. Ryan Raburn led the Tigers with two hits in both games, including a two-run home run in the second game of the doubleheader. The Tigers continue their final road trip of the season with the first two games of a four-game series at Baltimore today.

ALL SIX MEMBERS OF COACHING STAFF SLATED TO RETURN IN 2011: The Tigers yesterday announced all six members of the club’s coaching staff are slated to return in their respective roles for the 2011 season. It will mark the sixth season with the club for Rafael Belliard (infield coach), Gene Lamont (third base coach) and Lloyd McClendon (hitting coach), while Jeff Jones (bullpen coach) will return for his fifth straight season, Rick Knapp (pitching coach) will be back for his third season and Tom Brookens (first base, outfield and baserunning coach) will return for his second season.

WINNING WAYS OVER THE ORIOLES: The Tigers enter today’s games at Baltimore having won 17 of the club’s last 26 games against the Orioles dating back to April 10, 2007. Detroit is hitting .284 (261x920) with 129 runs scored, 57 doubles, eight triples and 29 home runs during the 26-game stretch versus Baltimore.

STARTING WELL: Tigers starting pitchers have registered a quality start in 22 of the club’s last 37 games dating back to August 20. During the 37-game stretch, Detroit’s starting pitchers have compiled a 17-7 record and 3.41 ERA (248.1IP/94ER).

OFFENSE ON THE UPTICK: Tigers hitters are batting .287 (402x1402) with 221 runs scored, 72 doubles, 10 triples and 42 home runs over the club’s last 38 games dating back to August 19. Detroit leads American League clubs with a .287 batting average, 221 runs scored and 402 hits during that stretch, while the club is second with 72 doubles.

DAMON PLAYS IN 140 GAMES FOR 15TH STRAIGHT SEASON: Johnny Damon saw action in both games of the doubleheader at Cleveland on Wednesday to give him 141 games played for the Tigers this season, marking the 15th straight season he has played in 140-or-more games. He is just the fifth player in major league history to appear in 140-or-more games for at least 15 consecutive seasons, joining Hank Aaron (16 seasons), Brooks Robinson (16 seasons), Pete Rose (16 seasons) and Willie Mays (15 seasons) in accomplishing the feat. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters today’s games hitting .350 (64x183) with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 38 RBI over his last 49 games dating back to August 5. He is second among all American League players with a .350 batting average and .629 slugging percentage during the stretch, while he is tied for second with and 27 extra-base hits, tied for third with 64 hits, 14 doubles and 13 home runs and is fourth with 38 RBI.

ALL IS WELLS WITH CASPER: Casper Wells enters today’s games at Baltimore hitting.394 (28x71) with 13 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 15 RBI over his last 25 games dating back to August 28.

PERALTA PICKING UP THE PRODUCTION: Jhonny Peralta is batting .304 (42x138) with six doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI over his last 36 games dating back to August 19. He is tied for fourth among all American League players with 30 RBI during the stretch.

ROOKIE HIT PARADE: Tigers rookie hitters collected six hits during the doubleheader against the Indians on Wednesday, raising the season total to 512 hits by Tigers rookies. The 512 hits by rookies are the most by Tigers rookies since the rookies on the 1929 club established the franchise record with 590 hits. (Source: STATS LLC)

JACKSON REACHES EVEN RARER ROOKIE TERRITORY: Austin Jackson collected his 180th hit of the season on Wednesday at Cleveland to become just the fourth player in major league history since 1901 to collect at least 100 runs scored, 180 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases as a rookie. Jackson joined Joe Jackson (1911), Juan Samuel (1984) and Hanley Ramirez (2006) in accomplishing the feat.

MORE ABOUT AUSTIN’S AMAZING ROOKIE CAMPAIGN: Austin Jackson has put together one the finest rookie campaigns by a Tigers player in franchise history and he enters today’s games at Baltimore ranking among the best rookies in club history in the following categories: fourth with 34 doubles, fifth with 26 stolen bases, sixth with 102 runs scored and 181 hits, tied for eighth with 247 total bases, is ninth with a .298 batting average and tied for ninth with 48 extra-base hits.

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23, Out for Season)


Out for Season



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Saturday, October 2,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-8, 4.62 ERA)) AT ORIOLES (LHP Brian Matusz (10-14, 3.98 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, October 3,
TIGERS (RHP TBA (??? ERA)) AT ORIOLES (RHP Brad Bergesen (8-10, 4.90 ERA)), 1:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

TIME FOR RUN SUPPORT, DARN IT!!!