GDT: 5/1/09 - DET (11-10) VS CLE (8-14) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- After a couple of brushes with the White Sox and Royals, the Tigers head into their first big divisional stretch over the next two weeks. They're hoping their bats come along with them.

The good news for the Tigers as they await the Indians this weekend at Comerica Park is that Armando Galarraga starts the opener with a track record of silencing Cleveland's offense. Three of his 13 wins last season came at the Tribe's expense, including his first Major League victory at Progressive Field on April 16, 2008.

The problem, and the big worry for manager Jim Leyland the past few days, is that his own offense hasn't exactly done much recently.

Take away Wednesday's five-run ninth inning in a game that was already out of hand, Detroit's formidable lineup managed just four runs in its first 25 innings off the Yankees' previously struggling pitching staff. It was shut out for the first time all year on Tuesday, and it had two low-offense outings in three games in Kansas City over the weekend.

As Leyland lamented Wednesday's 8-6 loss in the rubber match against the Yankees, he tried to not make a big deal about it, even as he admitted the Tigers have to get going.

"They'll hit. They always have," Leyland said.

They'll try to do so against a pitcher who was nearly a Tiger.

Four years have passed since Detroit targeted Carl Pavano on the free-agent market. Then coming off an 18-win season with the 2004 Marlins, Pavano embarked on a whirlwind tour of suitors that included a stop in Detroit and a visit with Tigers brass.

Financially, the Tigers made a competitive shot to put Pavano in their uniform. As it turned out, Pavano had his heart set on the Yankees once they got involved in the bidding. What has happened since then makes it seem like 12 years ago rather than four.

Pavano is now at the back end of the Indians' rotation, trying to resurrect a career that injuries derailed soon after he arrived in New York. The Tigers, meanwhile, head into the series with a man who arguably might be their staff ace, who was a Minor League trade acquisition a year ago. They'll try to give him the run support to become Detroit's first four-game winner.

"We've had a couple games," Leyland said before Wednesday's game, "but we really haven't hit the way we're capable of hitting. Some of that's due to the pitching against you, and some of it's due to [the fact that] we just haven't hit. ... We have to get some consistency going in our offense."


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-0, 1.85 ERA)
Galarraga allowed just three hits over six innings in his last start in Kansas City, but he wasn't happy about issuing five walks. He said he will be working on his mechanics so that walks won't be a problem as he goes forward. Galarraga made the big pitch when he needed it in Kansas City, and perhaps it's a good sign for the Tigers that he could hold the Royals to just one run despite those mechanical issues.

CLE: RHP Carl Pavano (0-3, 9.50 ERA)
Pavano has the ball for the first of a seven-game road trip. The Twins hit Pavano hard in his last start, scoring five runs on 11 hits and a walk in five-plus innings. Pavano, who has spent a good deal of his career in the National League, has never faced the Tigers. He will go against a former teammate in Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera, who was a part of the Florida Marlins' 2003 World Series championship team, along with Pavano.

Tidbits

... Brandon Inge has reached base safely in all 21 games this season, including his third-inning walk on Wednesday. It ties his 21-game streak to start the 2005 campaign, and it's tied for the seventh-longest such streak by a Tiger since 1954. Alan Trammell was the last with a longer one, reaching base safely in his first 24 games in 1990. ... Leyland said Wednesday he's hoping to have Carlos Guillen available in left field on Friday. Guillen has been the designated hitter in his last five games while he deals with Achilles tendinitis in his right foot. ... Josh Anderson has a 12-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .400 (14-for-35).

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-0, 1.85 ERA) vs. Indians (Carl Pavano, 0-3, 9.50 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Zach Miner, 2-1, 6.00 ERA) vs. Indians (Aaron Laffey, 2-0, 2.41 ERA) at , 3:40 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 1-2, 6.75 ERA) at Indians (Cliff Lee, 1-3, 3.94 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (TBD) vs. Twins (LHP Francisco Liriano, (0-4, 6.04 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

INDIANS

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
   
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
   
3. Victor Martinez, 1B
   
4. Shin-Soo Choo, LF
   
5. Mark DeRosa, 3B
   
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
   
7. David Dellucci, DH
   
8. Ben Francisco, RF
   
9. Kelly Shoppach, C
   

P: Carl Pavano


TIGERS

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

P: Galarraga

Rain delay they will try to start at 7:41

Dontrell Willis pitching for Mud Hens tonight.

Play ball.... 53 degrees

Inning 1
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Grady Sizemore walks.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Ben Francisco.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Mark DeRosa doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Mark DeRosa scores.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - David Dellucci singles on a soft ground
ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. David Dellucci to 2nd. Jhonny
Peralta advances to 3rd, on throwing error by first baseman Miguel
Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ben Francisco flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Grady Sizemore out on a sacrifice fly to
center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jhonny Peralta scores. David Dellucci
to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a ground
ball to second baseman Placido Polanco. David Dellucci scores. Kelly
Shoppach to 2nd.

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

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Kelly Shoppach scores. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo lines out sharply to right fielder Josh Anderson.

CLE 4-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

CLE 4-0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mark DeRosa grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta homers (1) on a line drive to left field.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
David Dellucci flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ben Francisco grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CLE 5-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Josh Anderson reaches on fielding error by first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
On-field Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Ben Francisco.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

CLE 5-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach called out on .

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Victor Martinez walks. Grady Sizemore to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo flies out to right fielder Josh Anderson.

at 84 pitches

CLE 5-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

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

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Grady Sizemore.

CLE 5-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Mark DeRosa grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
David Dellucci doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ben Francisco pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Anderson strikes out swinging.

CLE 5-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Nate Robertson replaces Armando Galarraga.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Kelly Shoppach strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Asdrubal Cabrera walks.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez walks. Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

CLE 5-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Ben Francisco.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis Granderson steals (3) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

CLE 5-0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Mark DeRosa singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
David Dellucci singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson. Mark DeRosa to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ben Francisco strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Kelly Shoppach singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Mark DeRosa scores. David Dellucci to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Grady Sizemore flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

CLE 6-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Carlos Guillen grounds into double play,
first baseman Victor Martinez to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to pitcher
Carl Pavano. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Mark DeRosa to first baseman Victor Martinez.

CLE 6-0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Anderson bunt pops out to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Brandon Inge scores.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Rafael Perez replaces Carl Pavano.

CLE 6-1

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Adam Everett to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to right fielder Ben Francisco. Adam Everett scores. Curtis Granderson to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Jensen Lewis replaces Rafael Perez.

CLE 6-2

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Ben Francisco.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (5) on a line drive to left field. Curtis Granderson scores. Placido Polanco scores.

CLE 6-5

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Rafael Betancourt replaces Jensen Lewis.


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