OAKLAND -- It's no secret that Miguel Cabrera can hit a baseball.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder ranks third in the American League in batting (.331 average) and eighth in OPS (.953). He has 16 home runs and 47 RBIs through 74 games.

He can play defense, too.

While it may not be as attractive as blasting 400-foot home runs, Cabrera's work around the first-base bag has been a big part of Detroit's success on the infield.

"He's going to be a Gold Glove first baseman if he wants to be," said manager Jim Leyland, whose Tigers wrap up a three-game set with the A's on Wednesday.

"You've got to want defense," Leyland continued. "It's about concentration. If he maintains his concentration, yeah, he's a Gold Glover. ... He's got the arm and he's a big target. He's perfect."

Cabrera has some ground to make up if he hopes to use his glove as the American League's starting first baseman in the All-Star Game. He currently ranks fourth in the voting behind Boston's Kevin Youkilis, New York's Mark Teixeira and Minnesota's Justin Morneau.

Placido Polanco and Brandon Inge rank fifth at second and third base, respectively.

In-stadium voting has ended, but fans can still vote online for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (8-3, 3.40 ERA)
Verlander's last outing had Leyland wondering if he might be tiring, but the Tigers' schedule doesn't allow much room for adjustment until the next time around the rotation. His last outing Friday at Houston saw him throw 76 pitches over his first three innings before he settled in. He ended up with three runs on seven hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings, while racking up half of his six strikeouts on called third strikes. He didn't face the A's when they visited Comerica Park in May, but his six career starts against Oakland include a 3-2 record, 2.61 ERA and 38 strikeouts over as many innings.

OAK: LHP Dallas Braden (5-7, 3.26 ERA)
Braden needed 100 pitches to get through 5 1/3 against the Rockies on Friday, surrendering four runs (two earned) to take the loss. It's the first time the 25-year-old has thrown at least 100 pitches without going six innings or more since May 16, where he gave up six runs in five innings -- his worst start of the year. That May 16 start could be a bad omen, as it came against these same Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Plenty on the injury front, courtesy of head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. Left-hander Nate Robertson had successful surgery with no complications on his throwing elbow Tuesday morning. He'll be able to play catch in 3-to-4 weeks and, if everything goes well, should be back in the Tigers rotation by the end of the regular season.
... Carlos Guillen (right shoulder) is hitting off a tee and throwing from 90 feet. He'll rejoin the team when it returns to Detroit on Monday.
... Jeremy Bonderman (right shoulder) should begin playing catch on Monday.
... Fu-Te Ni is stuck with the team's High School Musical backpack, as he's the reliever with the fewest Major League innings under his belt.
... Casey Crosby was named Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (June 22-28). He threw five no-hit innings in his lone start of the week.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Tigers (Lucas French, LHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) at Twins (Kevin Slowey, RHP (10-3, 4.41 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 6-4, 2.49 ERA) at Twins (Francisco Liriano, 4-8, 5.62 ERA), 4:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .259
Polanco, 2B .259
Cabrera, M, 1B .332
Thames, DH .256
Raburn, LF .263
Ordonez, RF .264
Laird, C .235
Kelly, 3B .286
Everett, SS .269

Oakland AVG
Kennedy, A, 3B .292
Cabrera, O, SS .247
Holliday, LF .273
Giambi, 1B .197
Suzuki, K, C .279
Sweeney, R, CF .270
Cust, DH .224
Buck, T, RF .235
Ellis, M, 2B .216

Miggy was doin' splits for a couple of those catches last night! Go Big Mig!!!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out softly, catcher Kurt Suzuki to first baseman Jason Giambi.

0-0

Lap, That was some list you found yesterday of the Roids users... I doubt some of the players listed were involved, and we know other names are not on it...

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Adam Kennedy swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
With Matt Holliday batting, Orlando Cabrera steals (3) 2nd base.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Matt Holliday walks.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Giambi swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Kurt Suzuki lines out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half



singles

grounds out, to 2nd

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday. Ryan Raburn scores.

DET 1, OAK 0


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Don Kelly grounds out to first baseman Jason Giambi.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Sweeney lines out softly to third baseman Don Kelly.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Jack Cust strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Travis Buck flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Adam Everett doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Dallas Braden to first baseman Jason Giambi. Adam Everett to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out sharply to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Ellis grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Kennedy called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Orlando Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Matt Holliday flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 1, OAK 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn walks.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into double
play, third baseman Adam Kennedy to second baseman Mark Ellis to first
baseman Jason Giambi. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jason Giambi called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jack Cust homers (14) on a fly ball to left field. Ryan Sweeney scores.
OAK 2, DET 1



B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Travis Buck pops out to third baseman Don Kelly.

OAK 2, DET 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird lines out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Don Kelly doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Adam Kennedy to first baseman Jason Giambi.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Mark Ellis to first baseman Jason Giambi.

OAK 2, DET 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Ellis flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Kennedy flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Orlando Cabrera flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

OAK 2, DET 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco lines out sharply to third baseman Adam Kennedy.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (16) on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

OAK 2, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Matt Holliday singles on a ground ball to third baseman Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
With Jason Giambi batting, Matt Holliday advances to 2nd on a balk.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Giambi homers (11) on a line drive to right field. Matt Holliday scores.
OAK 4, DET 1

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Sweeney swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jack Cust grounds out softly, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Bobby Crosby replaces first baseman Jason Giambi, batting 4th, playing first base.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to left fielder Matt Holliday.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Don Kelly swinging.

OAK 4, DET 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Justin Verlander.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Travis Buck doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Ellis grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Travis Buck to 3rd.