GDT5: 4/6/14 - DET (4-0) VS BAL (1-4) - 1:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Verlander salvaged a quality start out of a potential disaster on Opening Day, escaping with three runs over six innings and just two strikeouts in a no-decision against the Royals. All the runs came in a 33-pitch fourth inning.



Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 1.80 ERA)

The 25-year-old worked in and out of trouble on Opening Day against Boston, but he allowed only one run over five innings in the win. Tillman won his only start vs. Detroit last season, surrendering three runs and seven hits in five innings.





A battle of aces, as Tigers look to stay perfect in '14
Tillman, Verlander set to lock horns in series finale at Comerica Park

By Matt Slovin / MLB.com | 4/5/2014 5:45 PM ET

The 4-0 Tigers will try to wrap up their season-opening homestand on Sunday the same way it began -- by winning a game started by Justin Verlander.

Verlander (0-0, 3.00 ERA) received a no-decision on Opening Day. He'll oppose Baltimore's Chris Tillman (0-0, 1.80 ERA), who also started on Opening Day.

Detroit will be going for its first 5-0 start to a season since 2006, when the Tigers won the American League pennant.

Though Tillman pitched well on Opening Day, allowing one run, he lasted only five innings -- not long enough to pick up a quality start. In fact, no Baltimore pitcher has earned a quality start in the season's first week.

By comparison, the 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball turned in by Rick Porcello on Saturday was the Tigers' third quality start of their four-game-old season.

"Like I've said for the past three years," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said on Saturday, "we've got to get deeper into games with our starters. And if we don't, we'll be shuffling [pitchers in from Triple-A] Norfolk."

The Orioles' staff has allowed at least one baserunner in 39 of the 43 innings they have pitched. Baltimore's rotation has a combined ERA of 7.56.

With a win on Sunday, the Tigers would sweep the Orioles (1-4) for the first time since July 5-7, 2010.

Orioles: Showalter gives struggling Flaherty a rest
With his club facing Porcello, Showalter sat struggling third baseman Ryan Flaherty in favor of rookie Jonathan Schoop on Saturday.

"Just trying to get Jonathan out there with this string of right-handers [pitching]," Showalter said. "I don't want him to be sitting around too long -- and it might be good for Ryan, too. Ryan has played well for us defensively, and he'll get it going offensively."

Flaherty is 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts this season, and Saturday was the first game he did not start.

In his place, Schoop, batted ninth, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.

Tigers: Ausmus may meet with Torre about replay review
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus exchanged text messages with MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre about his first unsuccessful replay challenge. The two may meet in Los Angeles when the Tigers are in town next week.

During Friday's win over the Orioles, Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine bobbled a toss on the exchange from his glove to his hand while attempting to turn a double play. The umpire ruled the runner safe at second base. Ausmus challenged that the runner at second was out.

After consulting with an official at Major League Baseball's replay operations center, the umpires confirmed the ruling on the field. Torre told Ausmus it was the right decision.

Ausmus argued that the fielder can control the ball long enough in his glove and said plays of that nature need to be looked at more closely. But he knows replay is a "work-in-progress."

Worth noting
• With his three-run double in the third inning on Saturday, Torii Hunter is now batting .316 with 177 RBIs for his career with the bases loaded. He has reached in seven of his last nine plate appearances, after beginning the season 0-for-9.

• The only current Orioles with lifetime batting averages above .250 against Verlander are Flaherty (2-for-6) and J.J. Hardy, who has a .258 mark (8-for-31). Chris Davis is hitting just .176 (3-for-17) against Verlander for his career, while Nelson Cruz has posted a .154 mark (4-for-26) and Adam Jones a .111 average (3-for-27).

• Saturday was the seventh career three-hit game for Detroit's Don Kelly.

Matt Slovin is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• Dirks, Andy (LF) (Recovering from March 2014 back surgery, on the 15-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Iglesias, Jose (SS) (Stress fractures in both shins, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly late 2014)

• Rondon, Bruce (P) (Tommy John surgery-Right elbow, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: 2015)



On the Internet

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


On television

• , MLBN

• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

• AND/OR
• XM Channel Schedule





• Monday, April 7: OFF DAY


• Tuesday, April 8:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) AT
DODGERS: (?HP TBA (0-0, ? ERA))
10:10p  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• Wednesday, April 9:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 4.50 ERA)) AT
DODGERS: (?HP TBA (0-0, ? ERA))
10:10p  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


Thursday, April 10 OFF DAY
Friday, April 11 at Padres 10:10p FS-D+, MLB.TV
Saturday, April 12 at Padres 8:40p FS-D, MLB.TV
Sunday, April 13 at Padres 4:10p FS-D+, MLB.TV
Monday, April 14 OFF DAY

STARTING LINEUPS:

ORIOLES (career numbers off Verlander)

   David Lough, LF (2-for-12, double, 3 K’s)
   Nick Markakis, RF (10-for-41, 4 doubles, 5 walks, 10 K’s)
   Adam Jones, CF (3-for-27, HR, walk, 8 K’s)
   Chris Davis, 1B (3-for-17, 2 walks, 9 K’s)
   Nelson Cruz, DH (4-for-26, 2 HR, 8 K’s)
   Matt Wieters, C (3-for-19, double, triple, HR, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
   J.J. Hardy, SS (8-for-31, double, 3 HR, walk, 6 K’s)
   Ryan Flaherty, 3B (2-for-6, K)
   Steve Lombardozzi, 2B (0-for-2)

P: Chris Tillman




TIGERS (career numbers off Chris Tillman)

   Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-12, double, HR, walk, K)
   Torii Hunter, RF
   Miguel Cabrera, DH (4-for-9, double, HR, 2 walks, 2 K’s)
   Victor Martinez, 1B (2-for-6, K)
   Austin Jackson, CF (2-for-9, 2 K’s)
   Tyler Collins, LF
   Nick Castellanos, 3B
   Bryan Holaday, C (1-for-2)
   Andrew Romine, SS

P: Justin Verlander

Top 9

• Pitching Change: Al Alburquerque replaces Justin Verlander.
  
• 1. Nelson Cruz strikes out swinging.
  
• 2. Matt Wieters homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
  
• 3. Steve Lombardozzi singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.
  
• 4. Ryan Flaherty singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Steve Lombardozzi to 2nd.
  
• 5. Jonathan Schoop strikes out swinging.
  
• 6. David Lough lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.
  

Bottom 9

• 1. Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Ryan Flaherty to first baseman Chris Davis.
  
• 2. Victor Martinez doubles (1) on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Nick Markakis.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitching Change: Tommy Hunter replaces Chris Tillman.
  
• 3. Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.
  
• 4. Tyler Collins grounds out, second baseman Steve Lombardozzi to first baseman Chris Davis.
  

TIGERS LOSE 1-3


BOX SCORE


W: Tillman
L: Verlander
S: Hunter, T

Pitches-strikes: Tillman 113-74, Hunter, T 14-12, Verlander 112-76, Alburquerque 16-14.
Groundouts-flyouts: Tillman 10-6, Hunter, T 1-0, Verlander 6-8, Alburquerque 0-0.
Batters faced: Tillman 31, Hunter, T 2, Verlander 31, Alburquerque 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Hunter, T 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Kerwin Danley. 1B: Lance Barksdale. 2B: Mark Ripperger. 3B: Gary Cederstrom.
Weather: 50 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 5 mph, R to L.
T: 2:34.
Att: 34,261.
Venue: Comerica Park.
April 6, 2014