GDT: 4/16/08 - Detroit (4-10) @ Cleveland ( 5-9 ) - 7:05 p.m

DETROIT -- Don't expect the Tigers and Indians to feel sorry for each other. Nobody else in baseball does. Besides, they've got bigger worries.

"It's too early to be looking at other teams," Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield said. "We've got our own concerns."

The matchup for Midwestern dominance that this rivalry had been built up to be heading into the year takes on a much different look as Detroit and Cleveland meet for the first time this season for a two-game series at Progressive Field. Instead of two teams battling it out at the top of the American League Central, this is a matchup of two teams trying to find themselves, as Tigers closer Todd Jones put it.

They can pretend to look at trying to put distance between each other, but that means little to the three teams in front of them in the division. The first-place White Sox, second-place Royals and third-place Twins are all taking on non-division foes for the next couple days while Detroit and Cleveland beat up on each other.

They can talk about sending a message, but it might sound a little hollow for now.

"We want to try to win as many we can," Jones said. "We're so far behind the 8-ball with the losses, we've got our work cut out for us."

Head south out of Detroit towards Toledo and make a left, and one can see that the feeling on the banks of Lake Erie is mutual. Neither side has really seemed to watch the other starting out, but they're two teams in similar places, and not simply in terms of standings.

"It's early. You really can't read into who's in what place or anything like that," said C.C. Sabathia, who will take the mound for the Indians in Wednesday's series opener. "You've got to keep going out and trying to get into a rhythm, and things will fall into place from there.

"Everybody knows what kind of team they are and what they're capable of, and everybody knows how good we are and what we're capable of. It's just a matter of going out and doing it."

One or both of these teams has to do it, eventually. A series sweep on either side could get them on their way.

Though the Tigers became one of baseball's biggest shocks early on, with their 0-7 start and 2-10 record through the season's first two weeks, they've built momentum heading into the series. Take away the first five innings of their last two games, and they've looked like the offensive juggernaut as advertised. Detroit scored 11 runs in the final three innings of Monday's 11-9 victory, and then hit four home runs -- the last a Miguel Cabrera go-ahead line-drive shot -- in a 6-5 win the next night.

They're dangerous enough that they're a threat for any bullpen, let alone an Indians staff now on shuffle with closer Joe Borowski on the disabled list. "Not that we want to get down," manager Jim Leyland said, "but we feel like our offense is capable of striking at any time, and strike kind of big from time to time."

The challenge for them will be to try to do that against the front end of Cleveland's starting rotation. Both Sabathia and Fausto Carmona struggled mightily in their last starts, but a meeting with the Tigers could be the cure. They went a combined 5-2 against Detroit last season, tossing six quality starts in nine total outings.

If the Tigers are finally starting to get in sync, as Leyland has put it repeatedly, Sabathia and Carmona could easily take them out of it. The problem is that the Indians are trying to find theirs, too, after being swept by the Red Sox at home.

"When we hit, we don't pitch. When we pitch, we don't hit," first baseman Ryan Garko said. "I just think we've got to be consistent in all phases of the game."

That's hard to do when injuries are sapping some of the strength out of the team. Victor Martinez was hobbled to begin the year, and Borowski struggled before a triceps injury forced him out.

Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez, two setup men who silenced Detroit's offense last year, are off to slow starts.

Not that the Tigers, again, feel the need to sympathize. Leadoff man Curtis Granderson just started taking batting practice on his way back from a fractured right middle finger. Dontrelle Willis' hyperextended right knee has put him on the disabled list, leaving Wednesday's start to Triple-A callup Armando Galarraga. Sheffield, Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco all have suffered injuries as well.

"Sometimes there are other teams that are going through the same thing, but they snuck a couple [wins] in," Leyland said last weekend amidst a series loss in Chicago. "For instance, Cleveland, they snuck a couple more wins, so it doesn't look as bad. We haven't."

With two Tigers wins and two Indians losses, however, the difference now is only one game. It's just for last place right now, rather than first.

"Everybody's trying to find themselves," Jones said. "You get thrown in the deep end to start the season, it takes you a little bit to find your north and head towards it."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Galarraga will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo to make his second Major League start. He'll take the place of Willis. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has won each of his first two starts this season at Triple-A Toledo, allowing three runs on seven hits over 12 innings with 11 strikeouts.

CLE: LHP C.C. Sabathia (0-2, 11.57 ERA)
In a big contract season, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner has endured one of his career's toughest stretches to open the season. Struggling greatly with his command, Sabathia has yet to win a decision, pitching poorly in each of his three starts. Whether the pressure is getting to Sabathia cannot be said so early, but his 3 2/3 innings Friday against the A's was his
shortest outing in nearly two years. Lifetime against the Tigers, Sabathia is 13-8 with a 4.30 ERA.

Tidbits
Magglio Ordonez needs two more RBIs to reach 1,000 for his career. He has 15 in his career against Sabathia, batting 14-for-55 against him with four doubles and two triples. ... Guillen is 12-for-38 off of Sabathia, while Polanco is 10-for-34. ... Leyland said Jones should be available on Wednesday despite working the last two nights.


On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN+

On radio
• 1270 AM

Up next



• Thursday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-2, 6.52) at Indians (Fausto Carmona, 1-1, 2.20), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Friday: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 0-3, 6.75) at Blue Jays (A.J. Burnett, 1-0, 6.61), 7:07 p.m. ET

• Saturday: Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman, 1-1, 4.58) at Blue Jays (Dustin McGowan, 0-1, 3.71), 1:07 p.m. ET

Tonight's Line Ups:

Detroit AVG

:pudge: Rodriguez, C .208

:placido: Polanco, 2B .146

:sheff: Sheffield, DH .211

Ordonez, RF .291

Cabrera, 3B .213

Guillen, 1B .372

:edgar: Renteria, SS .268

:thames: Thames, LF .143

Inge, CF .282

Cleveland AVG
Sizemore, CF .291
- Michaels
Dellucci, LF .259
Hafner, DH .259
Martinez, C .375
Peralta, SS .255
Garko, 1B .319
Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B .184
Gutierrez, RF .171
Blake, 3B .150
- Marte

I was at the game last night and had a blast!
But I was wondering, the catch in the 9th looked good, but the umps said he lost control.

Could you tell what happened on TV?

Looked like a good catch to me. He lost the ball when he hit the ground.

Well, C.C. hasnt done too good so far, so maybe Galarragga can get his first ML win today.

And I'll actually be able to watch this one too!!! televised in Ohio, so let's watch another beating!

I like the vote result today!

Our confidence is back! Go get these scalps Tigers!

GO GALARRAGA! (I would've already peed on myself, I'd be so nervous!)

Go Tigers!!!!!!

Reading the game review above, it said :tjones: might be available, that's great, nothing better than getting to see my favorite pitcher get a save against the division rivals.

Speaking of which, are the Indians and Tigers like, rivals rivals

At least nobody thinks we'll lose...

The only thing that sucks is, I will not be able to watch the game! Comcast does not carry STO in my area, that covers Indians games, (because they say this is not classed Indians mkt area) but MLB.tv blocks all Indians games for me because they class it in market! Comcast says I am in the Pittsburgh mkt and gives me FSN Pit.

When I had dish network, they say this is Cleveland and Cinn. mkt. and I got STO, FSN for Cinn and upper Ohio. Go figure. I am 50 min from Pit, 3 Hrs from Cleveland or Cinn. I think MLB.tv is screwed up! Even if the Indians are playing in Det, I get blacked out!!!

Wow, so I can do some updates this time, woohoo, more posts for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

That is Ridiculous GOGETEMTIGERS! Typical Selig! Great way to market MLB

Moron!

Lets go tigers!!!!

Might leave in the middle of the game... I want to go running....

Ok ill be trackin it, kinda, im gonna need updates cuz my mom and brother are going to be watching TV on some other channel... fags

I might just go up to FD (fire department) and run on treadmill... that way I can still watch the game.

well im super happy, I just got my birthday present from my grandparents!!!

i thought tomorrow was ur birthday????

Waiting for the Pizza Delivery Guy to bring me dinner; Then I am watching Baseball and Hockey!


GO TIGERS AND WINGS!

Tigers gonna beat Cleveland!


Red Wings gonna beat Nashville!


YEAH!

lol. go tiger wings!

GO TIGERS! GO WINGS! WHOOOOOOO!

Well actually my birthday is sunday. they live pretty far away so they send it early. so i normally get it around now.

One out. Polly at bat.

2 outs.

1 - 2 - 3. Bottom of first.

ok well im gonna go hop in a shower so i dont miss too much, be back later

see ya.