GDT162: 9/29/13 - DET (93-68) AT MIA (61-100) - 1:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.56 ERA)

A late rally off the bullpen cost Verlander a win on Monday at Minnesota after six shutout innings and 12 strikeouts, many off a curveball he called his best all season. He's 21-2 lifetime in Interleague Play.



Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (4-6, 3.94 ERA)

Alvarez overcame a three-walk, two-run first inning in his last outing to post a quality start. He allowed two runs in seven innings in a loss to the Phillies. He enters the season finale losing his last two starts.





Verlander ready for last outing before postseason
Alvarez looks to close season on high note against Tigers

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 9/29/2013 1:18 AM ET

The Tigers' final tuneup before their American League Division Series rematch against the A's comes Sunday in Miami, where they send right-hander Justin Verlander to the mound for his last regular-season start.

The Tigers righty hasn't been very Verlander-esque this season, but he can still be dominant. Verlander has posted a 2.67 ERA through five September starts, two of which were scoreless outings, including his last time out against the Twins when he fanned 12 over six innings.

And while building on that outing to get right for the playoffs is important, there's another thing Verlander is looking forward to accomplishing Sunday -- getting his elusive first hit. Verlander's 0-for-24 streak at the plate is the longest hitless stretch by a Tigers pitcher to start his career in the designated hitter era, and the fourth-longest by a Tigers hurler since World War II.

"He's had to take a lot of kidding because he's the one pitcher [in the rotation] who doesn't have a hit," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's actually hit a few balls pretty decent, in defense of him."

Verlander will have to deal with a host of talented young Marlins batters on Sunday, as well as veteran Juan Pierre, who is slated to get his first start since late July. The 36-year-old is a favorite of Marlins fans after being a part of the 2003 World Series championship team and also ranks ninth in hits and third in stolen bases on the club's all-time lists.

Pierre -- a pending free agent -- has only played in 111 games this season, but Marlins manager and former teammate Mike Redmond said the veteran has been wonderful in the clubhouse.

"JP, he's been so consistent all year," Redmond said. "He's that voice in our clubhouse you hear and he's always upbeat and talking about winning, and competing, and playing both sides of the ball. It's been a real pleasure to get a chance to manage him.

"He means so much to me, and he's meant so much to these guys and the organization. It will be a bit of an emotional day tomorrow."

Tigers: Whiff you very much
The Tigers' pitching staff set the all-time single-season Major League strikeout record on Saturday and enter the season finale with 1,415.

The previous record was 1,404, set by the 2003 Cubs.

• Tigers starting pitchers have recorded a quality start in 48 of their last 70 games, going 34-19 with a 3.08 during that stretch.

• Anibal Sanchez's five scoreless innings on Saturday lowered his season ERA to 2.57, edging Oakland's Bartolo Colon (2.65) for the AL ERA crown.

Marlins: Alvarez gets ball in finale
Henderson Alvarez takes the mound for the Marlins in Sunday's season finale looking to close his first year in Miami on a high note. The right-hander has allowed only two home runs in 16 starts this season after giving up 17 in his first 16 starts last year.

Alvarez has made one career start against Detroit, throwing seven innings of one-run ball.

• First baseman Logan Morrison is batting .385 in Interleague Play this season.

Worth noting
• Miami leads the all-time series, 7-4.

• Verlander is 21-2 in his Interleague career.

• Tigers second baseman Omar Infante has a 10-game hitting streak.


Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.) Shut down for season






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• FRI, Oct 4:
Detroit: (RHP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
Oakland: (TBA (TBA ERA))
TBA  p.m. ET (TBS  / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Oct 5:
Detroit: (RHP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
Oakland: (TBA (TBA ERA))
TBA  p.m. ET (TBS  / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Oct 6:
OFF DAY


• MON, Oct 7:
Detroit: (RHP TBA (TBA ERA)) VS
Oakland: (TBA (TBA ERA))
TBA  p.m. ET (TBS, MLBN  / FM 97.1)


• TUE, Oct 8: IF NEEDED
Detroit: (RHP TBA (TBA ERA)) VS
Oakland: (TBA (TBA ERA))
TBA  p.m. ET (TBS, MLBN  / FM 97.1)


• WED, Oct 9:
OFF DAY


• THU, Oct 10: IF NEEDED
Detroit: (RHP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
Oakland: (TBA (TBA ERA))
TBA  p.m. ET (TBS / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit Tigers Lineup

   CF: Don Kelly
   RF: Andy Dirks
   1B: Prince Fielder
   LF: Jhonny Peralta
   2B: Omar Infante
   C: Brayan Pena
   SS: Jose Iglesias
   3B: Ramon Santiago
   SP: Justin Verlander


Miami Marlins Lineup

   LF: Juan Pierre
   2B: Ed Lucas
   CF: Justin Ruggiano
   RF: Giancarlo Stanton
   1B: Logan Morrison
   SS: Adeiny Hechavarria
   3B: Chris Coghlan
   C: Koyie Hill
   SP: Henderson Alvarez

Detroit - Top of 1st
1.Don Kelly grounds out, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria to first baseman Logan Morrison.

2.Andy Dirks grounds out softly to pitcher Henderson Alvarez.

3.Prince Fielder hit by pitch.

4.Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.


Miami - Bottom of 1st
1.Juan Pierre flies out to center fielder Don Kelly.

2.Ed Lucas strikes out on a foul tip.

3.Justin Ruggiano singles on a line drive to left fielder Jhonny Peralta.

With Giancarlo Stanton batting, throwing error by Justin Verlander on the pickoff attempt, Justin Ruggiano to 2nd.

4.Giancarlo Stanton strikes out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
1.Omar Infante lines out to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

2.Brayan Pena grounds out, second baseman Ed Lucas to first baseman Logan Morrison.

3.Jose Iglesias lines out to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.


Miami - Bottom of 2nd
1.Logan Morrison strikes out swinging.

2.Adeiny Hechavarria pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder in foul territory.

3.Chris Coghlan strikes out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd
1.Ramon Santiago lines out to shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

2.Justin Verlander grounds out, second baseman Ed Lucas to first baseman Logan Morrison.

3.Don Kelly grounds out, first baseman Logan Morrison to pitcher Henderson Alvarez.


Miami - Bottom of 3rd
1.Koyie Hill strikes out swinging.

2.Henderson Alvarez strikes out swinging.

3.Juan Pierre singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jhonny Peralta, deflected by shortstop Jose Iglesias.

4.Ed Lucas flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th
1.Andy Dirks grounds out sharply, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria to first baseman Logan Morrison.

2.Prince Fielder grounds out, pitcher Henderson Alvarez to first baseman Logan Morrison.

3.Jhonny Peralta pops out to second baseman Ed Lucas.


Miami - Bottom of 4th
Defensive Substitution: Matt Tuiasosopo replaces first baseman Prince Fielder, batting 3rd, playing first base.

1.Justin Ruggiano strikes out swinging.

2.Giancarlo Stanton called out on strikes.

3.Logan Morrison flies out to left fielder Jhonny Peralta.

0 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th
1.Omar Infante flies out to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

2.Brayan Pena lines out to left fielder Juan Pierre.

3.Jose Iglesias reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

4.Ramon Santiago grounds out sharply, second baseman Ed Lucas to first baseman Logan Morrison.


Miami - Bottom of 5th
Defensive Substitution: Hernan Perez replaces second baseman Omar Infante, batting 5th, playing second base.

1.Adeiny Hechavarria pops out to second baseman Hernan Perez.

2.Chris Coghlan walks.

3.Koyie Hill strikes out swinging.

4.Henderson Alvarez flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

0 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th
1.Justin Verlander called out on strikes.

2.Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

3.Andy Dirks grounds out, third baseman Chris Coghlan to first baseman Logan Morrison.




Miami - Bottom of 6th
1.Juan Pierre pops out to shortstop Jose Iglesias.

2.Ed Lucas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Don Kelly, deflected by shortstop Jose Iglesias.

3.Justin Ruggiano flies out to center fielder Don Kelly.

4.Giancarlo Stanton called out on strikes.

0 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
1.Matt Tuiasosopo called out on strikes.

2.Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.

3.Hernan Perez flies out softly to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.


Miami - Bottom of 7th
Defensive switch from left field to shortstop for Jhonny Peralta.

Defensive Substitution: Nick Castellanos replaces shortstop Jose Iglesias, batting 7th, playing left field.

Pitching Change: Doug Fister replaces Justin Verlander, batting 9th.

1.Logan Morrison flies out to left fielder Nick Castellanos.

2.Adeiny Hechavarria strikes out swinging.

3.Chris Coghlan singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Nick Castellanos.

4.Koyie Hill pops out to second baseman Hernan Perez.

0 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
1.Brayan Pena grounds out, second baseman Ed Lucas to first baseman Logan Morrison.

2.Nick Castellanos grounds out, first baseman Logan Morrison to pitcher Henderson Alvarez.

3.Ramon Santiago called out on strikes.




Miami - Bottom of 8th
Pitching Change: Rick Porcello replaces Doug Fister, batting 9th.

1.Henderson Alvarez strikes out swinging.

2.Juan Pierre grounds out, second baseman Hernan Perez to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.

3.Ed Lucas strikes out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Alex Avila replaces Rick Porcello.

1.Alex Avila grounds out, pitcher Henderson Alvarez to first baseman Logan Morrison.

2.Don Kelly grounds out sharply, pitcher Henderson Alvarez to first baseman Logan Morrison.

3.Andy Dirks walks.

4.Matt Tuiasosopo strikes out swinging.


Miami - Bottom of 9th
Pitching Change: Luke Putkonen replaces Rick Porcello, batting 9th, replacing Alex Avila.

1.Justin Ruggiano grounds out softly, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.

2.Giancarlo Stanton singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Don Kelly.

3.Logan Morrison singles on a ground ball to center fielder Don Kelly. Giancarlo Stanton to 2nd.

With Adeiny Hechavarria batting, wild pitch by Luke Putkonen, Giancarlo Stanton to 3rd. Logan Morrison to 2nd.

4.Adeiny Hechavarria grounds out softly, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.

5.Chris Coghlan walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs replaces Koyie Hill.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Greg Dobbs batting, wild pitch by Luke Putkonen, Giancarlo Stanton scores. Logan Morrison to 3rd. Chris Coghlan to 2nd.


TIGERS LOSE 0-1

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Alvarez (5-6)
L: Putkonen (1-3)


GAME INFO:

WP: Putkonen 2.
HBP: Fielder (by Alvarez, H).
Pitches-strikes: Verlander 80-56, Fister 13-7, Porcello 10-7, Putkonen 23-12, Alvarez, H 99-66.
Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 0-5, Fister 0-1, Porcello 1-0, Putkonen 2-0, Alvarez, H 14-4.
Batters faced: Verlander 22, Fister 4, Porcello 3, Putkonen 5, Alvarez, H 30.
Umpires: HP: Ron Kulpa. 1B: Chris Guccione. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Lance Barksdale.
Weather: 75 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
Venue: Marlins Park.
September 29, 2013