GDT: 4/17/12 - DET (7-3) AT KC (3-7) - 8:10 p.m. ET 
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Detroit Tigers AT Kansas City RoyalsTuesday, April 17, 2012
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Game Time - 8:10 p.m. EDT ______________________________________
Preview Smyly, Chen both seeking season's first winBy Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 4/17/2012 1:49 AM ET
While Drew Smyly is making his first road start of the season for the Tigers on Tuesday, it could feel more like a home game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
That's because the Arkansas native will have loads of friends and family attending the game, only his second Major League start.
Smyly lasted four innings in his Major League debut last Thursday against the Rays, giving up just one run on four hits in the no-decision, striking out four and walking three.
He escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam in the first inning, with a solo home run by Carlos Pena in the third marking the only run he surrendered.
Trying to get that first Major League win under his belt, Smyly will be up against veteran Bruce Chen.
While Chen has had two solid starts this season, he's still looking for his first win.
Starting off the season with six shutout innings against the Angels, the left-hander followed that up with a five-inning outing against the A's, giving up two earned runs on four hits. He also struck out three in a game the Royals lost, 5-4, in 12 innings.
"Guys had some good at-bats, but it was a bit of an odd game," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It looked for a while there we had it lined up."
Tigers: Fister throws with no setbacksRight-hander Doug Fister, who has been on the disabled list since April 8 with a left costochondral strain in his rib cage, threw 10 fastballs of a mound at Kauffman Stadium Monday with no setbacks.
"He threw today and felt good," manager Jim Leyland said. "A little stiff, but he felt good. It's just a process."
• Catcher Gerald Laird and reliever Octavio Dotel, who played for the World Series champion Cardinals last year, are scheduled to receive their championship rings on Sunday, with their former manager Tony La Russa coming to Detroit for a special delivery presentation.
"I heard [the ring] is really nice," Laird said. "It's going to be fun."
Royals: Gordon tabbed as spokespersonIt was announced by Major League Baseball on Monday that left fielder Alex Gordon has been tabbed as this year's spokesperson for the MLB All-Star FanFest that will be held July 6-10 at the Kansas City Convention Center/Bartle Hall.
"I'm honored and privileged to do it," Gordon said. "I think George Brett is doing something, too, and we're all excited the All-Star Game is in Kansas City, so whatever I can do to help out with the community and the team, I'm happy to do it."
George Brett, the Royals' Hall of Famer, is the All-Star Ambassador for Kansas City's third All-Star Game, its first since 1973.
Worth Noting• The Tigers have won 11 of the club's last 16 games against the Royals, dating back to May 13, 2011.
• Since Leyland took over as manager of the Tigers in 2006, Detroit has posted a 63-46 record against the Royals, including a 36-19 record at Kauffman Stadium.
• Miguel Cabrera is 9-for-18 against Chen with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs.
Tigers: LHP Drew Smyly (0-0, 2.25 ERA)Smyly escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in his first big league inning and pitched four innings of one-run ball Thursday against the Rays. His followup could be more like a home game, with family and friends attending from his native Arkansas.
Royals: LHP Bruce Chen (0-0, 1.64 ERA)Chen has two solid starts under his belt and no wins to show for it. He threw six shutout innings against the Angels and backed that up with a five-inning effort, giving up two earned runs, against the Oakland A's.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Royals 3-2 last night at Kauffman Stadium. Justin Verlander (1-1) went the distance for Detroit to earn the win, fanning nine batters. Brandon Inge belted a two-run home run for the Tigers, while Austin Jackson hit a solo home run. The Tigers continue the club’s first road trip of the season this evening with the second game of a three-game series at Kansas City. Detroit returns home for a seven game homestand with Texas and Seattle beginning on Thursday.
RACKING UP WINS AGAINST THE ROYALS: The Tigers enter tonight’s game at Kansas City having won 11 of the club’s last 16 games against the Royals dating back to May 13, 2011. Since Jim Leyland took over as the manager of the Tigers in 2006, Detroit has posted 63-46 record against the Royals, including a 36-19 record at Kauffman Stadium.
MIGGY’S THE MAN VERSUS KANSAS CITY: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game against the Royals hitting .335 (93x278) with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 56 RBI in 74 games during his career versus the club. He is ninth among all active major league players with a .335 batting average and .576 slugging percentage against Kansas City.
CABRERA ON COURSE AGAINST CHEN: Miguel Cabrera enters the game this evening at Kansas City hitting .500 (9x18) with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI during his career against Bruce Chen. Cabrera is tied for the lead among all active major league players with at least 15 plate appearances versus Chen with a .500 batting average against the pitcher, while he is third with a 1.111 slugging percentage.
VERLANDER GOES THE DISTANCE: Justin Verlander tossed the 15th complete game of his major league career last night in Detroit’s 3-2 win at Kansas City. He has worked eightor-more innings in each of his first three starts of the season, becoming the first Tigers pitcher to do so since Jack Morris opened the 1988 season by tossing eight-or-more innings in each of his first three starts.
FOR STARTERS: Tigers starting pitchers have combined to post a 2.87 ERA (47.0IP/15ER) over the club’s last seven games dating back to April 10. The starting pitchers have combined to post 43 strikeouts during the seven-game stretch, while limiting opponents to a .206 batting average against (35x170).
GLOVE WORK: The Tigers enter tonight’s game at Kansas City having committed only one
error in the club’s first 10 games of the season. Detroit is leading all American League
clubs with a .997 fielding percentage this season.
PILING UP THE PUNCHOUTS: Justin Verlander fanned nine batters last night at Kansas City, bringing the club’s season total to 90 strikeouts in the first 10 games of the season. Detroit is second among all American League clubs with 90 strikeouts this season.
ACTION JACKSON: Austin Jackson has reached base safely in each of Detroit’s first 10 games of the season, scoring at least one run in eight of the 10 contests. He is leading the American League with a .511 on-base percentage, while he is tied for the lead with 11 runs scored, is second with a .405 batting average, tied for second with eight walks, tied for fourth with 15 hits and tied for sixth with a .703 slugging percentage.
CABRERA, FIELDER FORM POWERFUL COMBO: Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are among the leaders in the major leagues in home runs and RBI since the start of the 2006 season. Fielder is third in the major leagues with 230 home runs during that stretch, while Cabrera is tied for sixth with 202 home runs. Cabrera is third in the major leagues with 703 RBI since the start of the 2006 season, while Fielder is sixth with 651 RBI.
DOTEL CLOSING IN ON HIS 700TH APPEARANCE: Octavio Dotel enters tonight’s game against the Royals having appeared in 698 games during his major league career, two appearances shy of 700 in his career. He would become the 93rd pitcher in major league history to appear in at least 700 games.
PETRY TO FILL IN FOR PRICE DURING KANSAS CITY SERIES: Jim Price will not be in the radio booth for the three-game series in Kansas City due to general health concerns. Dan Petry joined the club yesterday and will work all three games of the series to fill in for Price. Petry pitched 11 seasons with the Tigers (1979-87, 1990-91), compiling a 119-93 record and 3.84 ERA (1843.0IP/787ER) in 306 games (274 starts) with the club.
INJURY UPDATE:•
RHP Doug Fister (left costochondral strain,
15-day disabled list on April 7),
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RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring,
15-day disabled list on April 4).
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RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery,
15-day disabled list on April 4).
•
C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 12).
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Up next (Probable Pitchers) (RHP
Max Scherzer (0-1, 10.38 ERA))
AT Royals (RHP
TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FSD PLUS HD, / WXYT 97.1 FM)• THURSDAY, April 19: Tigers (LHP
Adam Wilk (0-1, 3.60 ERA))
VS Rangers (RHP
Yu Darvish (1-0, 4.76 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / WXYT 97.1 FM)• FRIDAY, April 20: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (1-0, 1.84 ERA))
VS Rangers (LHP
Matt Harrison (2-0, 0.64 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / WXYT 97.1 FM)• SATURDAY, April 21: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.13 ERA))
VS Rangers (?HP
TBA (TBA ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / WXYT 97.1 FM)______________________________________
Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:37 am
out swinging.
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