GDT11: 4/16/14 - DET (6-4) VS CLE (6-7) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

After a rain delay last weekend cost Sanchez a chance at a victory, a blown save from Joe Nathan cost him another on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. He's 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA for his career against Cleveland, including 2-0 last year.



Indians: RHP Zach McAllister (1-0, 2.31 ERA)

McAllister has been the Tribe's most dependable starter so far, having allowed just three earned runs on 11 hits with 11 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 4.85 in six career starts against the Tigers.





Indians, Tigers ready to renew AL Central rivalry
McAllister to oppose Anibal in first of two games at Comerica Park

By Matt Slovin / MLB.com | 4/15/2014 6:40 PM ET

As the Tigers and Indians begin their regular season series on Wednesday at Comerica Park, Cleveland will rely on its most consistent starting pitcher, right-hander Zach McAllister.

The series had been scheduled to start on Tuesday, but frigid temperatures in Detroit forced a postponement to a later date. The game will not be made up during this series.

McAllister has held opposing teams to three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, a streak that dates to Sept. 15, 2013. Most recently, he pitched 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his only decision of the season, a 2-0 victory over San Diego.

Detroit's Anibal Sanchez will try to silence the Indians' bats, which have come to life lately, producing 21 runs in the final three games of the series with the White Sox. But Cleveland took just one game in Chicago as John Axford blew a save on Sunday, surrendering a walk-off home run to Alexei Ramirez.

During the Tigers' recent West Coast swing, Sanchez pitched against the Dodgers and lasted five innings in a no-decision. He surrendered three runs on six hits, but only one run was earned.

If the Indians are going to keep pace with Detroit in the American League Central standings, they will need to use these divisional games as a springboard.

"I don't think they're do-or-die games, but certainly division games have an added importance," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said on Sunday. "I even think the Opening Series, besides the fact that it was Opening Day, playing Kansas City [was important]. Within the division, whether it's April or it's September, and I realize in September the pressure cooker could be a little bit hotter, but I think division games are always important."

Now that Interleague Play is temporarily behind the Tigers, who went 2-3 against the Dodgers and Padres, slugger Miguel Cabrera will transition back to the three-hole.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler should be at the top of the order, followed by right fielder Torii Hunter. Ausmus will likely place left fielder Rajai Davis at the bottom of the order as something of an additional leadoff hitter.

"I think he takes his at-bats pretty much the same regardless of where he's hitting," Ausmus said of Davis. "I know during the regular season he's hit ninth and first. But he seems to have the same approach regardless, which is good. That's what he should do. Even when he's hitting ninth, we're kind of looking at him as a second leadoff hitter."

The Tigers' pitching staff will have to deal with a red-hot David Murphy, who is 9-for-23 (.391) with five runs, three doubles, a triple, two homers and 10 RBIs in his last seven games.

"Yeah. I don't know if I can put my finger on it," Murphy said of his renewed confidence at the plate. "The Lord has definitely provided. I'm seeing the ball well."

Indians: Heavily-used bullpen is OK
Cleveland's bullpen finally got a breather in Sunday's series finale against the White Sox after eating up 12 innings over the first three games of the set.

Tribe starter Corey Kluber went 7 1/3 innings. Even if he hadn't gone deep into the game, manager Terry Francona is confident his eight-man bullpen, which entered Sunday's game leading the American League with 43 relief innings, would have been fine.

"We actually are OK, we've got a day off [Monday]," Francona said before Sunday's game. "We talked after Friday night's game and we thought we were OK and we'd play it by ear. The guys we brought in, like [Saturday], nobody stumbled so we didn't have to go to anybody we didn't want to."

Tigers: V-Mart an option at catcher
The Tigers bid farewell to their early round of Interleague Play by putting Victor Martinez behind the plate for the second time this week on Sunday. However, the return of the designated-hitter slot might not mean the end of Martinez's catching days.

"It definitely would be an option," Ausmus said, "probably a little bit more [than it was before]."

It would not be a regular option. As a 35-year-old with a history of knee problems on a team with a vested interest in keeping his bat in the lineup, Martinez isn't going to be any more than an occasional catcher.

Worth noting
• Jackie Robinson Day will be observed on Wednesday at Comerica Park and across Major League Baseball after Tuesday's postponement. Player and coaches on both teams will honor Robinson by wearing his No. 42 on their jerseys.

• The Tigers dominated the regular-season series against the Indians in 2013, winning 15 of 19 meetings, including two seven-game win streaks.

• Ace Justin Verlander will start Thursday on four days' rest against the Indians in the series finale. The move was intended to get Verlander back in the habit of pitching on four days' rest, which he prefers, though Ausmus said it was also done to split up Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly. Porcello's turn will be pushed back to Friday against the Angels.

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





• Thursday, April 17:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 2.57 ERA)) AT
INDIANS: (RHP Danny Salazar (0-1, 6.75 ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


• Friday, April 18:
TIGERS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
ANGELS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, FM 97.1)


• Saturday, April 19:
TIGERS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
ANGELS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS1, FM 97.1)


• Sunday, April 20:
TIGERS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)) AT
ANGELS: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, WXYT 1270 )


Mon, 4/21 White Sox 7:08p FS-D, FM 97.1
Tue, 4/22 White Sox 7:08p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Wed, 4/23 White Sox 7:08p FS-D, FM 97.1
Thu, 4/24 White Sox 1:08p FS-D, FM 97.1

STARTING LINEUPS:

INDIANS (career numbers vs. Sanchez)

   Michael Bourn, CF (8-for-27, 2 doubles, 2 walks, 7 K’s)
   Nick Swisher, 1B (2-for-12, 2 walks, 7 K’s)
   Jason Kipnis, 2B (3-for-17, double, 6 K’s)
   Carlos Santana, DH (4-for-16, double, triple, walk, 6 K’s)
   Michael Brantley, LF (5-for-17, K)
   Asdrubal Cabrera, SS (5-for-18, HR, 2 walks, 5 K’s)
   David Murphy, RF (1-for-5, K)
   Yan Gomes, C (2-for-5, HR, walk, 2 K’s)
   Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B (2-for-10, walk, 2 K’s)

P: Zach McAllister

TIGERS (career numbers off Zach McAllister)

   Ian Kinsler, 2B (2-for-3)
   Torii Hunter, RF (3-for-10, 2 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 1B (4-for-13, double, walk, 2 K’s)
   Victor Martinez, DH (5-for-9, 3 doubles, 2 K’s)
   Austin Jackson, CF (5-for-10, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
   Nick Castellanos, 3B
   Alex Avila, C (1-for-8, 4 K’s)
   Alex Gonzalez, SS
   Rajai Davis, LF (1-for-2)

P: Anibal Sanchez

Top 9

• Pitching Change: Joba Chamberlain replaces Al Alburquerque.
  
• 1. Yan Gomes singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.
  
• 2. Lonnie Chisenhall strikes out swinging.
  
• 3. Michael Bourn lines into a double play, second baseman Ian Kinsler to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Yan Gomes doubled off 1st.
  

Bottom 9

• Pitching Change: John Axford replaces Cody Allen.
  
• 1. Nick Castellanos flies out to center fielder Michael Bourn.
  
• 2. Alex Avila doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Michael Bourn. Alex Avila advances to 3rd, on a fielding error by center fielder Michael Bourn.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Andrew Romine replaces Alex Avila.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Don Kelly replaces Alex Gonzalez.
  
• 3. Don Kelly strikes out swinging.
  
• 4. Rajai Davis grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Nick Swisher.
  

TIGERS LOSE 2-3

BOX SCORE


W: McAllister (2-0)
L: Sanchez (0-1)
SV: Axford (5)