GDT: 8/25/11 - DET (70-59) AT TB (70-58) - 1:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Tampa Bay RaysThursday, August 25, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Game Time - 1:10 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4,
2010. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Hellickson, Fister set to battle in series finaleBy Jon Star / MLB.com | 8/25/2011 1:00 AM ET
When the Tigers executed the trade that brought Doug Fister over from the Mariners, they did so with the expectation that he would add valuable depth to the starting rotation. The right-hander will once again get to demonstrate that value on Thursday, as he aims to hand the Tigers a series victory in the finale of a four-game set with the Rays.
To close the series on a high note, following Wednesday's walk-off victory by the Rays, the Tigers will need Fister to deliver an encore to his last outing, in which he allowed one earned run on six hits over seven innings with seven strikeouts against the Indians. It was an important recovery, after Fister allowed eight earned runs on 16 hits in 7 2/3 innings in his two prior starts on Aug. 9 and 14. Despite those outings, Tigers manager Jim Leyland remains very confident in the righty.
"I'm thrilled with him," Leyland said. "I think he's really a nice complement for us. He's a knowledgeable guy. He's got pretty good pitchability, I think, from what I've seen. That's pretty good for us. ... He's very serious about his business. He knows what he's doing."
Jeremy Hellickson, who will square off against Fister, also enjoyed a bounce-back start in his previous outing. After lasting just 4 1/3 innings in a four-run effort against the Yankees on Aug. 13, Hellickson tossed eight scoreless innings against the Mariners on Saturday. It was a sharp effort, following a stretch where the Rays took extra care of Hellickson's arm -- including skipped starts and additional rest.
"I felt like I went out and attacked the zone a lot better [the last time out]," Hellickson said. "Also, my stuff felt a lot better. That had a lot to do with it."
"Moving forward, he's in pretty good shape to finish off the season on a normal game plan of four days off and pitching on the fifth day," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "There's going to be an off-day in there once in a while that's going to add a little bit of length in between starts."
Hellickson has enjoyed his share of success against the Tigers. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in two career starts versus Detroit, with 11 strikeouts and four walks.
Tigers: Bullish Benoit• Jose Valverde has been busy locking down Tigers victories this season, but he may not have even been in those positions without Joaquin Benoit. Following a slow start, Benoit has been one of the best setup men in the American League since May 20. In 38 games since that date, Benoit is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA, with seven earned runs allowed in 34 1/3 innings, 32 strikeouts and two saves. He has not allowed a run since Aug. 2, a span of 10 outings and 10 innings pitched in which he has registered seven holds.
• Miguel Cabrera will begin his paternity leave on Thursday,
freeing up a spot for the Tigers to call up catcher Omir Santos from Triple-A Toledo. Leyland hasn't decided if Santos will start behind the plate on Thursday. Victor Martinez is still unable to catch after spraining his knee three weeks ago. Should Santos' start, he would end Alex Avila's streak of 18 consecutive starts behind the plate.
Rays: Jennings continues to rake• Highly-touted prospect Desmond Jennings returned to the big leagues on July 23, and has done nothing but hit since then. Jennings is hitting .336 (38-for-113) with five home runs, 14 RBIs and 15 extra-base hits in 30 games. His average leads all rookies. The outfielder has hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games. Additionally, Jennings leads the Majors with 13 stolen bases since July 23.
Worth noting• Johnny Damon has 1,104 career RBIs, which according to SABR, makes him the seventh player since 1900 to record at least 1,100 RBIs without a 100-RBI season, joining Pete Rose, Eddie Collins, Julio Franco, Craig Biggio, Mark Grace and Rickey Henderson.
Tigers: RHP Doug Fister (2-1, 4.57 ERA)Fister threw seven innings of one-run ball against the Indians in his last start with seven strikeouts. Fister gave up four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Twins on May 24 as a member of the Mariners.
Rays: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (11-8, 3.04 ERA)Hellickson pitched eight scoreless innings against the Mariners Saturday night to pick up his 11th win of the season. He has delivered quality starts in each of his past eight outings at home and has gone 5-2 with a 1.84 ERA in those starts.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
-
Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist,
15-day disabled list on August 13),
•
RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion,
7-day disabled list on August 12).
•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
Gameday•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Friday, August 26: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (11-8, 5.17 ERA))
AT Twins (RHP
Anthony Swarzak (3-3, 3.12 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Saturday, August 27: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (19-5, 2.28 ERA))
AT Twins (RHP
Carl Pavano (6-10, 4.54 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, August 28: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (9-9, 4.82 ERA))
AT Twins (LHP
Brian Duensing (8-13, 5.12 ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)