GDT: 5/23/08 - DET (20-27) VS MINN (23-24), 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Armando Galarraga gave Tigers manager Jim Leyland little choice. The right-hander performed too well in place of injured starter Dontrelle Willis to lose his spot in the starting rotation.

With Willis now back from the disabled list, Leyland has decided to send Willis to the bullpen to iron out control issues and keep Galarraga in his starting role.

Galarraga, who was called up from Triple-A Toledo in mid-April, has been the Tigers' most consistent starter this season. In his six starts, he has a 3-1 record and a 3.06 ERA, which is lowest among Detroit's starters. He has 24 strikeouts against 14 walks in 35 1/3 innings, while opponents have hit .167 off him.

Also, he is 4-for-6 in quality starts and the team is 5-1 when he starts.

The Tigers look for that trend to continue as Galarraga takes the mound on Friday night for the opener of a three-game series with the Twins at Comerica Park.

There had been talk the Tigers would assign Galarraga to the bullpen or back to Toledo when Willis returned, but to Leyland, keeping Galarraga in the rotation was the only reasonable option.

"I can't, in any way, shape or form at this particular moment, justify taking him out of the rotation," he said. "He's got the hot hand right now."

Numbers aside, Leyland has been most impressed with the 26-year-old's composure on the hill.

"I think Galarraga has shown, up to this point, and I knock on wood, as good a mound presence as any pitcher we got," he said. "He doesn't seem to get too rattled. Now, he's also going real good, and sometimes you don't know until you see somebody struggle. But he's shown no signs of getting flustered or any type of frustration.

"The first time he pitched, I was impressed. I couldn't believe it. He showed poise, makes his pitches, shakes the catcher off. He's done very, very well."

Galarraga said his cool presence when pitching is an extension of his calm personality. He feels that the best way to stay in control is to relax, be himself and not get too aggressive.

"I just try to get a lot of comfort -- comfort for me to try to get people out to make the game go by quickly," Galarraga said. "It's my style. A lot of guys do different stuff on the mound, but I feel really good, in control and always give the team a chance."

The Tigers, who just swept the Mariners, have a chance to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games.

The last time the Tigers faced Minnesota three weeks ago, they were coming off a three-game sweep of the Yankees. The Twins proceeded to sweep the Tigers in that series. The Tigers are looking for a different outcome this time.

"We had a good series," Leyland said, "and we've just got to keep it going."


2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-1, 3.06 ERA)
Galarraga looks to win his second straight game after leading the Tigers to victory over Arizona. His only loss of the season came to the Twins on May 2 at the Metrodome, where two of his four runs allowed were unearned in six innings. At Comerica Park this season, he has no decisions in two starts and a 4.76 ERA, though his home starts came against division leaders -- the Red Sox and the Angels.


MIN: RHP Kevin Slowey (0-4, 5.49 ERA)
The right-hander appeared to make more progress in his latest start, despite picking up his fourth straight loss. Slowey allowed just three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings to the Rockies in his first Interleague start at Coors Field. He faces the Tigers for the first time this season. Slowey is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in one career start at Comerica Park.


Tidbits

Brandon Inge's three-run home run on Thursday was his 51st career homer at Comerica Park, the most by any player in park history. ... Freddy Dolsi earned his first Major League save by tossing three scoreless innings. ... Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games.


On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sat., May 24: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (1-5, 6.08 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP Boof Bonser (2-5, 5.25)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., May 25: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (2-7, 5.61 ERA)) VS Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (1-1, 3.44)), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., May 26: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (4-4, 6.66 ERA)) AT Angels (RHP Jon Garland (5-3, 4.34 ERA)), 9:05 p.m. ET

Starting Linups:

Minnesota AVG
Gomez, CF .286
Casilla, 2B .278
Mauer, C .333
Morneau, 1B .303
Cuddyer, RF .227
Kubel, DH .248
Young, LF .278
Lamb, 3B .222
Harris, SS .255


Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .247
:placido: Polanco, 2B .281
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .202
Ordonez, RF .315
Cabrera, 1B .282
Guillen, 3B .292
:joyce: Joyce, LF .278
:edgar: Renteria, SS .281
:pudge: Rodriguez, C .268

The new Game Pace crap starts tomorrow...I actually agree with Leyland on this one...There is no clock for baseball..either you have the patience for this game or you don't.

Leave the pace alone!

67 degrees at game time~



TIGERS WILL WIN AGAIN!

They are gonna sweep the Twins!


YEAH

Just like they did the Mariners

They'll do it again tonight!!!

Go Gala!

YES

65 degrees at game time; 67 for a high temp today

Stat of the day: Tigers record against AL Central this year...4-15. (Half of those wins are against Minnesota).

Gomez out
Casilla walked
Mauer walked

Morneau k

Cuddyer k

Go Go Gala!!!

good job getting it back together Gala!

LETS GO TIGERS!!!

If the games ends at 10, and I fall asleep the second it ends, I will get 3 hours of sleep...

:curtis: k

TigersGirl wrote:

LETS GO TIGERS!!!

If the games ends at 10, and I fall asleep the second it ends, I will get 3 hours of sleep...

Sounds like you have an early wakeup tomorrow or did not sleep last night

How are we doing today guys? I'm not watching the game cause, well, I want to spend the night writing and baseball distracts me.

:placido: double

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

TigersGirl wrote:

LETS GO TIGERS!!!

If the games ends at 10, and I fall asleep the second it ends, I will get 3 hours of sleep...

Sounds like you have an early wakeup tomorrow or did not sleep last night

I have to wake up at 1 am.... Be at the place where the bus is at 1 30, and then leave there at 2....

Hey Tigerlily. What are you writing?

0-0 we have a runner on 2nd.

Sheff grounds out

Maggs out.

TigersGirl wrote:

Hey Tigerlily. What are you writing?

Just in my novel... well my new one... well... one of my new ones (I have about fifty of them started and in various states of unfinished-ness).

grounds out, darn.

end of 1 - score 0-0

TigerLily wrote:

TigersGirl wrote:

Hey Tigerlily. What are you writing?

Just in my novel... well my new one... well... one of my new ones (I have about fifty of them started and in various states of unfinished-ness).

Oh, thats cool

TigersGirl wrote:

TigerLily wrote:

TigersGirl wrote:

Hey Tigerlily. What are you writing?

Just in my novel... well my new one... well... one of my new ones (I have about fifty of them started and in various states of unfinished-ness).

Oh, thats cool

Thank you. I appreciate hearing that because I feel like a dork when I say it lol