GDT 2: 4/21/12 - DET (9-5) VS TEX (12-2) - 7:05 p.m. ET 
---
VS ---
Detroit Tigers VS Texas RangersSaturday, April 21, 2012
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 7:05 p.m. EDT ______________________________________
Preview Detroit twin bill to feature fresh, not-so-rested hurlersHarrison to pitch on seven days' rest; Verlander coming off 131 pitchesBy Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 4/20/2012 9:30 PM ET
Normally when Justin Verlander is stretched out in a start, he has the benefit of an extra day of rest to recuperate.
That won't be the case for the right-hander on Saturday night, though, when the Tigers face off against the hot-hitting Rangers at Comerica Park in a day-night doubleheader.
Verlander and Rangers starter Neftali Feliz will pitch the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. ET, while Rick Porcello and Matt Harrison will start the day game, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. ET. Friday night's game was postponed due to rain.
Tossing 131 pitches to go the distance Monday night against the Royals for the win, Verlander will pitch on normal rest Saturday.
While manager Jim Leyland hasn't said what kind of pitch count Verlander will be under, the situation will be somewhat uncharted territory for the ace. He has pitched on normal rest after throwing at least 130 pitches only once. That happened Aug. 6, 2008, in a loss to the White Sox, before being rocked five days later by the Blue Jays. He surrendered six runs on seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings, tossing just 78 pitches in the loss.
Yet the Rangers know that underestimating the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner in any situation would be a mistake.
"He's one of the best in the game," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "He's got very good velocity on his fastball, two offspeed pitches that are plus and he can command in the strike zone. He commands all of his pitches. It makes it tough for an offensive player."
The Tigers also have that same type of respect for Feliz.
In two starts this season, Feliz is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He went five innings on Sunday against the Twins, giving up three runs on five hits in a no-decision.
"He's just a terrific talent," Leyland said. "He's obviously not coming out there full-barrel anymore like he did when he was coming in to close the game out. When you're starting the game, you've got to pace yourself a little bit. But he's obviously got tremendous stuff."
Meanwhile, Harrison will try to keep his hot streak going for Texas in the early game, after starting the 2012 campaign with a 2-0 mark and just one run allowed in his first two starts. Dating back to last season, he is 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his past seven regular-season outings.
Harrison is pitching on seven days' rest after being pushed back because of the Rangers' off-day on Monday and a rainout on Friday. He's thrown two bullpen sessions between starts to stay fresh.
"What's another day?" said Harrison. "I was already pushed back, so one more day won't matter."
Porcello has found success this season thanks to his ability to keep the ball down in the strike zone. In his two starts this season, he has induced 18 groundouts, and opponents are hitting just .226 against him.
Porcello allowed just one run in 7 2/3 innings against the White Sox on Sunday for the win.
"This is probably one of the deepest lineups that we see," Porcello said of the Rangers. "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: Kirkman to get time as starter• Left-hander Michael Kirkman will be in the Triple-A Round Rock rotation. Kirkman, who failed to make the Rangers' bullpen coming out of Spring Training, started for Round Rock on Friday night against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kirkman has been struggling out of the Express bullpen. He has made five appearances in relief and allowed seven runs on 12 hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. The Rangers are hoping that extra work as a starter will help Kirkman straighten out his problems.
"Looking at Mike's situation with not being consistent to this point, we thought by putting him into the rotation, he would be able to get side work, be able to work from the windup to help his delivery with timing and rhythm," Rangers Minor League pitching coordinator Danny Clark said. "This is not long term, and he will not be stretched out over three- to five-inning stints."
• Rangers manager Ron Washington is still planning to use Kinsler at designated hitter in the first game on Saturday, and Adrian Beltre will do so in the night game. That will allow Washington to use Michael Young at second base in Game 1 and third base in Game 2.
Tigers: Cabrera a Rangers nemesis• Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has hammered the Rangers throughout his career. He boasts the highest batting average against Texas of any current player.
Although he went 1-for-4 on Thursday, Cabrera is hitting .369 against Texas, with eight homers and 45 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 past 21 games against the Rangers at Comerica Park during the regular season.
______________________________________
Pitching matchup
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.13 ERA)Verlander went the distance for a 3-2 win over the Royals in his last start. He threw 131 pitches and was clocked at 100 miles per hour on his last pitch, which was a called third strike against Alex Gordon with the bases loaded.
Rangers: RHP Neftali Feliz (1-0, 2.25 ERA)Feliz pitched 11 scoreless innings to start the season before giving up three runs to the Twins on Sunday. Opponents are hitting .209 off him. Feliz has a career 4.70 ERA against the Tigers but has not allowed a run in three innings at Comerica Park.
______________________________________
Tiger's MLB Game Notes
INJURY UPDATE:•
RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery,
15-day disabled list on April 4).
•
RHP Doug Fister (left costochondral strain,
15-day disabled list on April 7),
•
RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring,
15-day disabled list on April 4).
•
C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 12).
______________________________________
To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet 
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio•
SCOREBOARD•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
•
Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
,
•
XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) (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• TUESDAY, April 24: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (1-1, 7.98 ERA))
VS Mariners (LHP
Jason Vargas (2-1, 2.84 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)______________________________________
Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:02 pm
out swinging.
3 - 1