GDT: 6/28/08 - DET (39-40) VS COL(32-48) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- This should look familiar. Tigers fans witnessed a similar situation unfold earlier this season.

A win over the Rockies on Saturday night would give the Tigers a .500 record for the first time in 2008. The last time they inched this close to even, after sweeping the Yankees in early May, the Tigers lost 12 of their next 15 games.

This time, they want different results, continuing manager Jim Leyland's well-stated baby-steps approach.

"We're just playing," Leyland said. "We need to take little baby steps. I'm very pleased. You can't just leap from last place to first place; it doesn't work that way. You need to play the game the right way, and good things normally happen."

So why should fans believe this time differs from that rough May stretch?

For one thing, the team's health has improved. Relievers Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney have returned from shoulder injuries. Designated hitter Gary Sheffield looks like himself again, smashing clutch hits and laser beams into the left-field stands. They've lost two starting pitchers, but Armando Galarraga and Eddie Bonine have helped pick up the slack.

Also, the Tigers have as much synergy as they've had this season. The starting pitching, hitting and bullpen have shined in unison over the last few weeks, and when a team as talented as the Tigers has all pistons firing, they can become tough to shut down.

"We can make up any deficit," Sheffield said. "We have enough talent to turn it around."

Detroit has been especially tough against left-handed starters this season. With seven right-handed batters in their regular lineup, the Tigers have one of baseball's best records against southpaws at 14-5.

On Saturday, they will face lefty Jeff Francis, who is coming off one of his worst starts of the year.


Interleague record: 111-98 overall, 11-5 in 2008

2008 Interleague schedule
• May 16 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-3
• May 17 at Diamondbacks: Won, 3-2
• May 18 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-0
• June 13 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-0
• June 14 vs. Dodgers: Won, 12-7 SWEPT SERIES
• June 15 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-4
• June 16 at Giants: Lost, 8-6
• June 17 at Giants: Won, 5-1
• June 18 at Giants: Won, 7-2 WIN SERIES
• June 20 at Padres: Lost 2-6
• June 20 at Padres: Won 7-5
• June 22 at Padres: Won, 5-3 WIN SERIES
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: Lost 4-8
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: WON 8-7
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: WON 3-2 WIN SERIES
• June 27 vs. Rockies: WON 7-1
• June 28 vs. Rockies
• June 29 vs. Rockies

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (4-9, 4.49 ERA)
All the early-season speculation over whether Verlander was pitching hurt has been put to rest by his arsenal of stuff over his past few outings. He had a season-high 10 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings last Sunday at San Diego despite lacking a feel for his offspeed pitch. He hit 98 mph several times on the PETCO Park radar gun. He has dominated Interleague Play over his three full big league seasons, going 8-0 in nine regular-season starts against the National League.

COL: LHP Jeff Francis (3-7, 5.65 ERA)
Old problems returned in Francis' last start, a loss at Kansas City on Monday. For one, he gave up four runs in the first inning. He had curbed that season-long problem in his two previous starts. Francis also struggled with the command of his fastball, and that's why manager Clint Hurdle thought he struggled. For the game, Francis lasted just 4 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs. In his last three starts, Francis is 1-1 and has given up 12 runs.


Tidbits

Leyland said shortstop Edgar Renteria and outfielder Marcus Thames will rejoin the lineup Saturday after two games out. The Tigers skipper wouldn't comment on why Renteria hasn't played, but he said Thames' absence isn't a response to his ejection from Wednesday's game. "He's acted a bit out of character," Leyland said. "I don't want people to get the impression that he's benched. He'll be back in there, and he'll be fine." ... Injured outfielder Ramon Santiago took soft-toss swings on Friday afternoon. If he continues to progress, he should return from the disabled list for Detroit's series at Minnesota, starting Monday. ... On Friday night, the Tigers improved to 36-4 when they score at least five runs. ... Jeff Larish, whom the Tigers recently optioned to Triple-A Toledo, started at third base on Thursday. With Miguel Cabrera becoming more comfortable at first, Larish, a first baseman, will have to play another position to crack the Detroit lineup in future years. ... Toledo manager Larry Parrish has been named a World Team coach for the 2008 Futures Game on July 13 at Yankee Stadium.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sun., June 29: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (5-5, 4.60 ERA)) vs Rockies ( RHP Greg Reynolds (2-5, 5.68 ERA)) 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., June 30: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga, (7-2, 3.32 ERA)) at Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (4-2, 4.47 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

• Tue., July 1: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-6, 5.23) ERA)) at Twins (RHP Scott Baker (4-2, 3.57 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS


Colorado AVG
Taveras, CF .242
Helton, 1B .267
Holliday, LF .328
Hawpe, RF .263
Atkins, 3B .306
Spilborghs, DH .303
Baker, 2B .280
Iannetta, C .271
Tulowitzki, SS .148



Detroit AVG
:edgar: Renteria, SS .265
:placido: Polanco, 2B .319
Guillen, 3B .301
Ordonez, RF .304
Cabrera, 1B .276
:thames: Thames, LF .259
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .230
:pudge: Rodriguez, C .274
:curtis: Granderson, CF .294

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78 degrees; chance of scattered T Storms.



GO TIGERS

Thank you Man Upstairs that they're not on FOX tonight!!!!

It's storming here. Hop it doesn't get rained out tonight.

Rained really hard here about an hour ago...now just muggy.

Looks like another storm is coming in here though.

hopefully it will all be outta here by tonight!

I think the game will be played



Weather similar to yesterday.



And it looks like Sunday's Rain hits after 4 pm

No More Rain Delays


Have had enough of them so far

Go

Blog open!

ahead 5-1 in 5th

Miner coming in to pitch in the 6th inning

Am I late? Did the game start yet?

Maggs hurt his Oblique? WTF??

Where's Grilli??

tigersaint wrote:

Maggs hurt his Oblique? WTF??

It's been a nagging injury for the past few weeks. He insists on playing every day instead of taking a break.

Has he been lifting those heavy pillows again?

Renteria bites the big one.....SHEESH!!

Thanks for the encouraging email, lap!!

Granderson Rocks!! Double Play!!

Where IS everybody??

It's Grilli!!!!!

Just not a 'Nando fan but I hope he pitches good tonight.

Well 'Nando.....nicely done!!

I am here all alone, talking to myself

Grandy 15-game hitting streak ends.....rats!