GDT: 6/9/08 - DET (26-36) VS CLEV (28-35), 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Dontrelle Willis has pitched longer in each appearance since returning from the disabled list. Look for that trend to continue on Monday night, as the Tigers' left-hander starts the finale of a four-game series with the Indians at Comerica Park.

After recovering from a hyperextended right knee, Willis went to the Detroit bullpen with no open spot in the starting rotation. On May 23 against the Twins, Willis made his first career regular season relief appearance and first since 2003 with the Florida Marlins. He threw one inning and allowed one run.

Then came his first start since the injury at Oakland last Tuesday. Willis piggybacked the start with Armando Galarraga, allowing no runs in the first four innings.

Now, he looks to go longer.

"I'm excited to be back out there," Willis said. "I'm going to do what I can and see how it goes."

Willis' longest outing this season came in his first with the Tigers. In the season's fifth game, Willis no-hit the White Sox for five innings and left having given up three runs on one hit and seven walks.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he has no set length for Willis on Monday. Like a normal start, it depends how well he pitches.

"If he gets quick outs, he'll go longer," Leyland said. "I don't have a problem stretching him out, because I don't think there's a weakness there, where he hasn't thrown enough pitches. He's thrown enough pitches, and he was fine from a strength standpoint."

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: LHP Dontrelle Willis (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Willis will get a chance to build on some positive signs from his return to the rotation last Tuesday at Oakland. His four scoreless innings in a piggyback start included a dominant first couple frames before he walked five batters. Even so, he came up with outs when he needed them to strand runners on base, including called strikes spotted on the corners. He has scattered four hits over his 10 innings this season, but has walked 16 batters.

CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (9-1, 2.45 ERA)
The hitting-friendly conditions at Rangers Ballpark did not work in Lee's favor in his last start Wednesday in Texas, when he gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings but won thanks to an outpouring of offensive support. In general, though, Lee hasn't been nearly as dominant of late as he was in the first six weeks of the season, when he was putting up downright historic numbers. He's allowed 16 earned runs over his last four starts, yet he's won his last three in a row. He'll be in more pitching-friendly conditions as he faces the Tigers for the first time this season. Lee is 3-6 with a 5.23 ERA in 14 career starts against the Tigers and 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA in six starts at Comerica Park.


Tidbits

Placido Polanco made his third error of the season in Sunday's game. It was the first since making back-to-back errors at Boston the second week of the season. Last year, Polanco, the Gold Glove winner at second base, did not commit an error and set his position's record for consecutive games without an error. ... Todd Jones earned save No. 311, tying Tom Henke for 16th on the all-time list. ... Galarraga picked up his first career win at Comerica Park.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD, ESPN

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next
• Tue., June 10: White Sox (Jose Contreras, 6-3, 2.76) at Tigers (Nate Robertson, 3-6, 6.03), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Wed., June 11: White Sox (Javier Vazquez, 6-4, 3.64) at Tigers (Justin Verlander, 2-9, 5.05), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Thurs., June 12: White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 3-6, 4.80) at Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 4-4, 5.13), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS


Cleveland AVG
Gutierrez, CF .253
Francisco, LF .309
Martinez, 1B .284
Garko, DH .263
Peralta, SS .230
Choo, RF .333
Blake, 3B .239
Shoppach, C .219
Barfield, 2B .000

Detroit AVG
:edgar: Renteria, SS .266
:placido: Polanco, 2B .277
:thames: Thames, DH .253
Ordonez, RF .316
Cabrera, 1B .274
Guillen, 3B .304
Inge, C .228
:clevlen: Clevlen, LF .000
:curtis: Granderson, CF .240

86 degrees at game time; chance of storms


At least I can sit in my regular seat


I sat in the last row of the mezzainne in Section 218 on Sunday!


Thank God there were a few empty seats

By the way; I read your comments on relocating my seat GoGetEm.

If they can find me a seat in the shade full season; I may do so!


Not like Bleachers Seats are 8 bucks with a free hot dog coupon and soda every game anymore!

Paid 810 for a Full Season; Might be worth paying a 200 extra bucks to sit in the shade

Though there are a lot of other ticket holders in my current section that I am friends with;

Tigers are gonna win again Monday Night

The D-Train will not stop in Cleveland tonight!
GO TIGERS!

gs78 wrote:

By the way; I read your comments on relocating my seat GoGetEm.

If they can find me a seat in the shade full season; I may do so!


Not like Bleachers Seats are 8 bucks with a free hot dog coupon and soda every game anymore!

Paid 810 for a Full Season; Might be worth paying a 200 extra bucks to sit in the shade

we need you around! not in the hospital from heat stroke!

Dudes, Todd Jones is 16th on the all time saves list. Thats some sweet stuff. And uhh, I mean, Cliff Lee has been shutting down people this year. But hey, we'll hit him im sure.

Go Tigers.

Stat of the day: Dontrelle Willis' K/BB ratio...0.19. Cliff Lee's K/BB ratio...5.42.

*gulp*

Stats are over-rated. Dontrell's had his problems, sure...but so has Cliff Lee. His ERA has been climbing steadily in recent weeks. I'm not convinced he's as good as everyone says he is. Hopefully, the offense will show up like it has the last couple of games and knock out Lee early!

Hmmmm I like the looks of this!!!!

Indians hitters vs Dontrelle Willis
2003-2007
AVG AB HR RBI

Blake, Casey .167 6 0 0
Cabrera, Asdrubal ------------
Carroll, Jamey .333 24 0 2
Choo, Shin-Soo ----------
Dellucci, David --------
Francisco, Ben --------
Garko, Ryan .000 3 0 0
Gutierrez, Franklin .667 3 0 1
Marte, Andy .333 3 0 0
Martinez, Victor .667 6 1 1
Peralta, Jhonny .000 2 0 0
Shoppach, Kelly --------
Sizemore, Grady .250 4 0 0


Only 1 HR and 4 RBI's against the D-Train in 3 years!! I think we have a good chance of winning tonight!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

I think we have a good chance of winning tonight!

As long as we can hit. Luckily we're going up against a decent pitcher tonight as opposed to Cy Garbage who always shuts us down.

Well Cliff Lee has been getting the job done.

Is he a righty or lefty? Because we have been hitting more frequently against the southpaws.

gdennis59 wrote:

Well Cliff Lee has been getting the job done.

Is he a righty or lefty? Because we have been hitting more frequently against the southpaws.

as the first post says...

CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (9-1, 2.45 ERA)

Hehe, didnt notice my bad. But I think we should do fine.

Looks like a rain delay...

There is plenty more nasty rain heading towards the D, MI, and Ohio!

It hurts MY knee everytime I see that slip by D-Train

Darn ESPN is not showing the game even though it has started!

your kidding right?

3-0 Indians in the 1st, darn it D-Train!

ok, ok...enuff of Griffey, back to the Tigers game!

what happened?

Wow. Thats trashy, D Train is garbage and we should have never traded for him.

Gutierrez - pops out
Francisco - walks
Martinez - walks
Garko - 3 run homer
Peralta - k
Choo - k

Still way too many walks.

No game on my ESPN yet!

According to gameday...