GDT: 4/20/12 - DET (9-4) VS TEX (11-2) - 7:05 p.m. ET 
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Detroit Tigers VS Texas RangersFriday, April 20, 2012
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT ______________________________________
Preview Harrison, Porcello face off in postseason rematchBy AJ Cassavell / Special to MLB.com | 4/19/2012 11:35 PM ET
The stakes aren't quite as high as the last time they met, but when Matt Harrison and Rick Porcello square off Friday in Detroit, it will be a battle of the top two teams, record-wise, in the American League.
Harrison and Porcello will take the mound opposite each other at Comerica Park for the first time since a rain-soaked Game 4 of the ALCS last October. Both allowed three runs and earned no-decisions that day as the Rangers won a thriller in 11 innings.
Friday night, the two pitchers return to the scene of that instant classic in the second game of a four-game set.
"Obviously, we lost to these guys in the playoffs last year, and it would be nice to beat them here at home," said Porcello, whose Tigers lost to Texas 10-3 on Thursday. "But we're trying to beat everybody. It doesn't matter who we're playing. I don't think there's really a revenge factor."
The early-season success for the two squads can be in part attributed to the performances of Porcello and Harrison, who have improved greatly on their 2011 form.
Harrison has opened the 2012 campaign with a 2-0 mark and just one run allowed in his two starts. Dating back to last season, he is 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last seven regular-season outings.
Harrison is pitching on six days rest after being pushed back because the Rangers had an off-day on Monday. The team wanted to keep Yu Darvish working on four days rest, so Harrison compensated by having two bullpen sessions between starts instead of one.
"Hopefully my command is still there," Harrison said. "It's a long break, but I put my work in between starts and I feel good about it. I'm ready to go."
Harrison is 6-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 12 career starts with six-plus days of rest.
"It won't hurt him," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "He can use it. He had a long season last year and a quick winter. Anytime we can get him a break, we're going to use it."
As for Porcello, he has done a great job of keeping the ball down in the zone. In his two starts this season, he has induced 18 groundball outs and opponents are hitting just .226 against him.
His last time out, Porcello allowed just one run in 7 2/3 innings against the White Sox. He is 1-0 this year with a 1.84 ERA.
"This is probably one of the deepest lineups that we see," Porcello said of Texas. "They've got a lot of guys that can do damage. You just got to go out there and make pitches and throw strikes and just do the best you can to keep them off balance. It's a good team, there's not much else you can say."
Rangers: Cruz breaks out of his slumpAfter getting the day off for Thursday night's series opener, Mitch Moreland and David Murphy will be back in the Rangers' lineup Friday for Game 2. Including the playoffs, Murphy is 7-for-9 with a home run against Porcello.
Mike Napoli will return to the catcher spot, clearing room at first for Moreland. Napoli has started six games behind the plate and five at first base so far this season.
"I'm going to keep Mike in the lineup," Washington said. "I said in Minnesota I'm going to get Mike as many at-bats as I can. He is one of the guys we expect to carry us."
• With two more wins this series, the Rangers would win their fifth straight series to start the season for just the second time in team history. The 1989 club -- also the only other Rangers squad to start 11-2 -- did so as well.
Tigers: Jackson setting the tableTigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has dominated the Rangers throughout his career. He boasted the highest batting average against Texas of any current player heading into Thursday's game.
Although he went 1-for-4 on Thursday, Cabrera is hitting .369 against Texas with eight homers and 45 RBIs.
• Cabrera is also just six RBIs shy of becoming the 21st active player with 1,000 or more RBIs.
• With his next appearance, Tigers reliever Octavio Dotel will become just the 93rd pitcher in history to appear in 700 games.
Worth noting• Harrison has struggled in his career against the Tigers, going 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA in seven games.
• The Tigers have won 16 of their last 21 games against the Rangers at Comerica Park during the regular season. But the Rangers had success in the Motor City when it mattered most, taking two of three there in the 2011 ALCS.
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Pitching matchup
Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (1-0, 1.84 ERA)Porcello has produced two strong starts, inducing 18 ground-ball outs over that span. He allowed just one run over 7 2/3 innings in his last start against the White Sox. Opponents are hitting just .226 against Porcello in 14 2/3 innings.
Rangers: LHP Matt Harrison (2-0, 0.64 ERA)Harrison has won his first two starts and is 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last seven regular-season starts going back to last year. He is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA in five career starts and two relief appearances against the Tigers.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 10-3 loss to the Rangers last night at Comerica Park, snapping the club’s four-game winning streak. Adam Wilk (0-2) took the loss for Detroit after allowing three runs (two earned) in four innings of work. Don Kelly led the Tigers with two hits and three RBI, while Delmon Young added a double. The Tigers continue a seven-game homestand with the second game of a four-game series versus Texas this evening. Following an off day on Monday, the homestand concludes with a three-game series against Seattle beginning on Tuesday.
HAPPY AT HOME: The Tigers have compiled a 158-92 record at Comerica Park since the beginning of the 2009 season, a .632 winning percentage. Detroit is second among all major league clubs with a .632 winning percentage at home during that stretch, trailing a .660 winning percentage at home by the New York Yankees.
RACKING UP THE WINS OVER THE RANGERS: The Tigers enter tonight’s game having won 16 of the club’s last 21 games versus the Rangers at Comerica Park during the regular season dating back to September 11, 2007. Detroit won two of the three games played versus Texas at Comerica Park during the 2011 American League Championship Series.
MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE RANGERS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game versus Texas hitting .369 (66x179) with 16 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 45 RBI in 43 games during his career against the club. He is tops among all active major league players with a .369 batting average versus the Rangers, while he is third with a .408 on-base percentage and .603 slugging percentage.
LOOKING FOR THE LEFTY: The Tigers will face Matt Harrison as the club takes on Texas in the second game of a four-game series tonight at Comerica Park. Detroit has posted a 6-0 record this season in games in which the opponent’s starting pitcher is lefthanded.
RABURN ROLLS AGAINST HARRISON: Ryan Raburn enters the game tonight versus Texas hitting .667 (8x12) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI during his career against Matt Harrison. Raburn is tops among all active major league players with at least 10 plate appearances versus Harrison with a 1.333 slugging percentage against the pitcher, while he is second with a .667 batting average.
FOR STARTERS: Tigers starting pitchers have combined to post a 2.86 ERA (63.0IP/20ER) over the club’s last 10 games dating back to April 10. The starting pitchers have combined to post 52 strikeouts during the 10-game stretch, while limiting opponents to a .250 batting average against (59x236).
PILING UP THE PUNCHOUTS: Four Tigers pitchers combined to fan five batters last night versus Texas, bringing the club’s season total to 106 strikeouts for the season. Detroit is third among all American League clubs with 106 strikeouts this season.
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 704 RBI since the start of the 2006 season, while Fielder is sixth with 654 RBI.
MIGGY HEADED TOWARDS 1,000 RBI: Miguel Cabrera enters this evening’s game versus Texas with 994 RBI during his major league career, six RBI shy of 1,000 in his career. He would become the 21st active major league player with at least 1,000 RBI.
DOTEL CLOSING IN ON HIS 700TH APPEARANCE: Octavio Dotel enters tonight’s game against the Rangers having appeared in 699 games during his major league career, one appearance shy of 700 in his career. He would become the 93rd pitcher in major league history to appear in at least 700 games.
INJURY UPDATE:•
RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery,
15-day disabled list on April 4).
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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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C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 12).
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) (RHP
Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.13 ERA))
VS Rangers (RHP
Neftali Feliz (1-0, 2.25 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)• SUNDAY, April 22: Tigers (LHP
Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.90 ERA))
VS Rangers (RHP
Colby Lewis (2-0, 1.83 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)• MONDAY, April 23: OFF DAY______________________________________
Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:23 am