GDT19: 4/24/13 - DET (9-9) VS KC (10-7) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 2.84 ERA)

Scherzer received a no-decision in his last start, but his eight innings of one-run ball with 12 strikeouts nullified a Felix Hernandez gem and provided a glimpse of the form that made Scherzer into a breakout starter last year.



Royals: RHP Wade Davis (2-0, 2.25 ERA)

Unbeaten in three starts as a Royal, Davis hasn't allowed a run in his past 13 innings -- including seven scoreless vs. the Braves in his last start. His start is pushed back a day after Tuesday's rainout in Detroit.








Streaking starters reconvene after rainout

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 4/23/2013 9:29 PM ET

It's hard to pitch better than Max Scherzer has his last two times out. Wade Davis has come awfully close.

Davis and Scherzer were scheduled to square off Tuesday, but the game was postponed because of rain. On Wednesday, they'll try to do it again.

Unfortunately for Scherzer, the Tigers' right-hander has nothing to show for his recent efforts. Scherzer's numbers reflect the unpredictability of baseball. He earned a victory in his first start of the year, when he allowed four runs in five innings. Over his past two outings, he has yielded only two earned runs in 14 innings while tallying 23 strikeouts. He didn't factor into the decision in either game.

"I was able to start getting all three pitches to work," Scherzer said after limiting Seattle to one run over eight innings his last time out. "Fastball, slider, changeup -- I was able to start throwing them for strikes and then start moving them out of the zone. That gave [catcher Brayan] Pena some flexibility to get creative in the pitch-calling. He did a great job back there, what pitch to throw in what situation. We got in a good rhythm, a good roll, and I was able to put together a good outing to keep us competitive in that game."

Scherzer is 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 13 career outings against Kansas City.

Davis has not allowed a run in either of his past two starts, spanning 12 innings. He earned wins against both the Twins and Braves, as he held Atlanta's high-powered offense in check over seven innings on April 17 to snap the Braves' 10-game win streak.

"I came out with my big goal to get ahead," Davis said. "I know they have a pretty good offense, so I had to mix it up a lot and minimize my mistakes and keep them off the plate."

Royals: Mendoza waits
• Luis Mendoza was scheduled to start Wednesday's game in Detroit and make his first appearance since April 12, but he will have to wait once again. A confluence of off-days and postponements allowed the Royals to skip Mendoza in the last turn through the rotation, and they will do so again Wednesday.

"I take it as a positive. It gives my arm some rest after a busy winter. Maybe that'll help me stay healthy the rest of the season," Mendoza said.

Mendoza is 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA in his two starts.

"He might not be quite as sharp and he might be ultra-sharp, I don't know," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

• Kansas City's starting rotation has worked a minimum of six innings in each of the past seven games and into the seventh frame in six of the past eight. In 17 games thus far, Kansas City starters have worked at least six innings on 14 occasions.

Tigers: Papa Grande returns to close
• The Tigers signed right-hander Jose Valverde to a one-year deal Tuesday and immediately named him their closer after he made three appearances for Class A Lakeland in four days.

It was part of a day of bullpen shuffling for Detroit, which also placed right-hander Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation and promoted Bruce Rondon from Triple-A Toledo.

Manager Jim Leyland said he would like to ease Rondon, a candidate to close during Spring Training, into action as he makes his Major League debut, but there is no hesitation with Valverde.

"His stuff has been very good," team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said of Valverde. "We think he's ready to come in and close games for us."

• According to Tigers media relations, Al Alburquerque's five consecutive strikeouts Sunday against the Angels were the most by a Tigers reliever since Nelson Cruz fanned six Brewers in a row on July 8, 2000.

Worth noting
• Royals righty Ervin Santana tossed his third consecutive quality start in the first game of Sunday's twin bill in Boston. He only had two such stretches all of last season.

• Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder snapped a five-game stretch without an RBI when he tallied two RBIs on Sunday. Prior to the mini-drought, he recorded 18 RBIs over a nine-game span.

Zack Meisel is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @zackmeisel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.








INJURY UPDATE:

• RF Avisail Garcia (Right heel contusion, 15-day DL retroactive to March 22, 2013).

• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, 15-day DL retroactive to April 20, 2013).







To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• SCOREBOARD
• Official Press Pass game notes


On television

•
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

• AND/OR
• XM Channel Schedule








• THU, April 25:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 2.13 ERA)) VS
ROYALS: (RHP James Shields (1-2, 3.00 ERA))
1:08 p.m. ET (FS-D / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)


• FRI, April 26:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 1.75 ERA)) VS
BRAVES: (LHP Paul Maholm (3-1, 1.03 ERA))
7:08 p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)


• SAT, April 27:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (0-2, 11.08 ERA)) VS
BRAVES: (RHP Kris Medlen (1-2, 2.16 ERA))
1:05 p.m. ET (FOX / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF (1-for-8, walk, 2 K’s off Wade Davis)
Torii Hunter, RF (3-for-7, 2 K’s off Davis)
Miguel Cabrera, 3B (2-for-10, 2 HR, walk, 2 K’s off Davis)
Prince Fielder, 1B (0-for-1 off Davis)
Victor Martinez, DH (1-for-9, 2 walks, K off Davis)
Andy Dirks, LF (1-for-4 off Davis)
Jhonny Peralta, SS (2-for-11, walk, K off Davis)
Alex Avila, C (2-for-7, 2 HR, 2 walks, K off Davis)
Omar Infante, 2B (0-for-4 off Davis)

P: Max Scherzer


ROYALS

Alex Gordon, LF (7-for-18, HR, 5 walks, 3 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Alcides Escobar, SS (4-for-19, 2 HR, 2 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Billy Butler, DH (10-for-36, walk, 6 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Eric Hosmer, 1B (4-for-14, walk, 3 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Lorenzo Cain, CF
Mike Moustakas, 3B (1-for-14, 2 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Jeff Francoeur, RF (7-for-28, HR, 9 K’s vs. Scherzer)
Salvador Perez, C (5-for-7, 2 HR vs. Scherzer)
Chris Getz, 2B (3-for-9, walk vs. Scherzer)

P: Wade Davis

Weather: 40 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 10 mph, L to R.

KC - Top 1st
B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Gordon strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Alcides Escobar strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Billy Butler grounds out, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 1st
B:3 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Torii Hunter strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Prince Fielder pops out to third baseman Mike Moustakas in foul territory.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

KC - Top 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Eric Hosmer doubles (2) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Lorenzo Cain grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Eric Hosmer to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Mike Moustakas grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Jeff Francoeur strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Alex Avila walks. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Omar Infante singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Jhonny Peralta scores. Alex Avila to 2nd.
1 - 0

B:2 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.

1 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

KC - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Chris Getz singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Salvador Perez to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Alex Gordon doubles (6) on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Salvador Perez scores. Chris Getz to 3rd.
TIED 1 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:0
Alcides Escobar singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Chris Getz scores. Alex Gordon to 3rd.
KC 2 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:0
Billy Butler singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alex Gordon scores. Alcides Escobar to 3rd.
KC 3 - 1

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Eric Hosmer out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alcides Escobar scores.
KC 4 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:3
Lorenzo Cain grounds into a double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Billy Butler out at 2nd.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Miguel Cabrera scores. Prince Fielder to 3rd.
KC 4 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Prince Fielder scores. Victor Martinez out at home on the throw, right fielder Jeff Francoeur to catcher Salvador Perez.

KC 4 - 3 AFTER 3 INNINGS

KC - Top 4th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Mike Moustakas strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Jeff Francoeur grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 4th
B:4 S:1 O:0
Alex Avila walks.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Mike Moustakas. Alex Avila out at 3rd. Omar Infante to 2nd. Austin Jackson to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Mike Moustakas. Omar Infante scores. Austin Jackson to 3rd.
TIED 4 - 4

B:0 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Austin Jackson scores.
5 - 4

B:4 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder walks. Torii Hunter to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Torii Hunter scores. Prince Fielder to 2nd.
6 - 4

Pitching Change: Luis Mendoza replaces Wade Davis.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Andy Dirks batting, wild pitch by Luis Mendoza, Prince Fielder to 3rd. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta walks. Prince Fielder scores. Victor Martinez to 3rd. Andy Dirks to 2nd.
7 - 4

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

7 - 4 AFTER 4 INNINGS

KC - Top 5th
B:4 S:1 O:0
Chris Getz walks.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Alex Gordon walks. Chris Getz to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Alcides Escobar singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Chris Getz to 3rd. Alex Gordon to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Billy Butler grounds into a force out, pitcher Max Scherzer to catcher Alex Avila. Chris Getz out at home. Alex Gordon to 3rd. Alcides Escobar to 2nd. Billy Butler to 1st.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Eric Hosmer walks. Alex Gordon scores. Alcides Escobar to 3rd. Billy Butler to 2nd.
7 - 5

B:3 S:3 O:2
Lorenzo Cain called out on strikes.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Mike Moustakas strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 5th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Torii Hunter flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.

7 - 5 AFTER 5 INNINGS

KC - Top 6th
Pitching Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Max Scherzer.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Jeff Francoeur grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Salvador Perez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Chris Getz grounds into a force out, second baseman Omar Infante to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Salvador Perez out at 2nd. Chris Getz to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alex Gordon flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


DET - Bot 6th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, pitcher Luis Mendoza to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

7 - 5 AFTER 6 INNINGS

KC - Top 7th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Alcides Escobar strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Billy Butler strikes out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Eric Hosmer walks.

Injury Delay.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Lorenzo Cain walks. Eric Hosmer to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Al Alburquerque.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Mike Moustakas pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: J. Gutierrez replaces Luis Mendoza.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Omar Infante flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

7 - 5 AFTER 7 INNINGS

KC - Top 8th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Jeff Francoeur grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Salvador Perez strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Chris Getz grounds out, first baseman Prince Fielder to pitcher Joaquin Benoit.


DET - Bot 8th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder walks.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds into a force out, second baseman Chris Getz to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Prince Fielder out at 2nd.

7 - 5 AFTER 8 INNINGS

KC - Top 9th
Pitching Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alcides Escobar grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Billy Butler flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.


TIGERS WIN 7-5

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Scherzer
L: Davis, W
S: Valverde (1)


Game Info

WP: Mendoza.
Pitches-strikes: Davis, W 95-50, Mendoza 47-26, Gutierrez, J 25-14, Scherzer 94-61, Alburquerque 26-15, Benoit 14-9, Valverde 18-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Davis, W 5-3, Mendoza 3-2, Gutierrez, J 5-1, Scherzer 7-1, Alburquerque 2-1, Benoit 2-0, Valverde 1-2.
Batters faced: Davis, W 23, Mendoza 11, Gutierrez, J 7, Scherzer 24, Alburquerque 8, Benoit 4, Valverde 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Mendoza 2-1, Benoit 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Fieldin Culbreth. 1B: Bill Welke. 2B: Brian O'Nora. 3B: Adrian Johnson.
Weather: 41 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 10 mph, L to R.
T: 3:22.
Att: 30,347.

Game 19: The return of the Big Potato
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on April 25, 2013 at 1:59 am

I have no idea how Jose Valverde’s return is going to work out. For people to look at Valverde not throwing a splitter on Wednesday night and point out that October weather is cold in Detroit, too, requires a huge presumption about Valverde closing.

This wasn’t a move made for October. The Tigers can find a closer for October at the Trade Deadline if they don’t think they have that guy in house then. This was a move made for now.

What I know is that the Tigers did not want to continue with a bullpen by committee. They wanted a set closer. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have scouted Jose Valverde a couple days after sending Bruce Rondon to Triple-A Toledo at the end of Spring Training, and a couple days before the season began in Minnesota.

This wasn’t an indictment of how Joaquin Benoit was pitching, or even about how Phil Coke was pitching. Once the Tigers signed Valverde to a minor-league contract, the question was simply whether he was pitching better than he did last year. Once they saw that, they didn’t need to run him through the motions at Triple-A Toledo. They saw all they needed.

Say what you will about the case for using your bullpen situationally the whole way through, using your best reliever in the eighth inning for the middle of an opponent’s lineup if those are the toughest outs. The Tigers were never going to be in that school of thought, right or wrong.

“Ideally, you’d like to have a one-person closer at the end of the game with a good club,” team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski told the Detroit Economic Club on Wednesday at their annual luncheon. “We looked at some different alternatives. It really didn’t fall into place with getting that one person.”

Jim Leyland can play matchups, but he feels better playing them from the sixth inning through the eighth than doing it into the ninth too.

That showed on Wednesday. With the ninth inning set, he used Al Alburquerque in the sixth inning for just the second time this season. He played the matchups in using Benoit against Mike Moustakas with two outs in the seventh, not only because Moustakas had good numbers against Phil Coke, but because he knew he’d want Benoit against the right-handed hitters that followed anyway.

With the ninth inning set, no matter who’s up, it lets Leyland focus on matchups with the seventh and eighth. With the ninth inning set, it lets Leyland avoid wondering what he’ll do if the leadoff man reaches base in the ninth.

Is Valverde the man for that long term? No idea. He’s the man for now, and they’ll see how it works out. Remember, Santiago Casilla was closing games for the Giants at this time last year. The Tigers are on the hook for Valverde for just $2 million guaranteed, and have $3 million more tied to incentives. If they decide they want to go in a different direction this summer, they can. If they decide Bruce Rondon is ready in the summer, they can go that way, too. If they like what they see with Valverde, they can say he’s their guy and gear their bullpen around him.

Valverde’s stuff at least gives them hope he can handle the job right now. The fastball has new life. Whether it’ll have that same life after a couple months of closing, nobody really knows. If it does, the Tigers have to like what they have. If it doesn’t, the Tigers don’t have to sit around hating it.

One more note, and an ironic one at that: If one believes in the notion that any decent reliever can get you at least 25 saves without much problem, as one scout floated this spring, then one should believe that if Valverde has better stuff than he did at the end of last year, he can handle the job. Of course, if you believe in that theory, then you probably tuned out this closer debate a long time ago. Time will tell.