GDT: 7/17/08 - DET (47-47) AT BAL (45-48) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland can't figure out why his fantasy baseball-like lineup hasn't consistently scored. He uses words like "shocked," "puzzled" and "baffled."

Sure, the Tigers have posted large run totals this season. They've scored 19 runs twice. However, they've also been shut out 10 times -- most in the Majors. Detroit has 13 blowout wins (victories by five runs or more), but also 14 blowout losses.

"I'm still shocked about the inconsistency of our offense," Leyland said. "The inconsistency is a big concern. When you talk about the first half, you'd say the biggest surprise is that the offense hasn't done well. We need to get that fixed."

With a batting order featuring six All-Stars, some predicted the 2008 Tigers would become the eighth team since 1900 to score 1,000 runs in a season.

To achieve that feat, last accomplished by the 1999 Indians, Detroit would have to score 6.2 runs per game over the final 68 games.

The Tigers have averaged 4.9 as they begin the second half, and are on pace to score 790 runs this season.

"We need to get our offense going on a consistent basis," Leyland said. "We've got to be able to beat the pitchers we're supposed to beat. When you face a good one, you have to struggle your [tail] off and find out a way to beat him. But there have been some pitchers in the first half that this offense should have beaten, and we haven't."

The Tigers have struggled to find hits in clutch situations, especially in their three losses in the week leading up to the break.

"We want to get it done. We want to get the big hits, but I think we're tensing up," rookie outfielder Matt Joyce said. "We want to get runs on the board and get the crowd into it, and sometimes I think we get a little too excited."

The Tigers played without cleanup hitter Magglio Ordonez, last year's American League batting champion and MVP runner-up, for the final 14 games of the first half. He went on the disabled list with a pulled oblique, but Detroit plans to have him back on Thursday for the opener of a four-game set at Baltimore.

Ordonez's return won't provide an instant cure, but it will help an offense in need of steadiness.

"We're going to have to score more consistently in the second half if we're going to win," Leyland said.



Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Kenny Rogers (6-6, 4.55 ERA)
Rogers gets the call to begin the second half. He finished the first half earning a no-decision against the Twins after allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings. Since June 2, Rogers has been one of Detroit's most consistent starters, allowing an average of 2.3 earned runs in 10 starts. He begins the second half facing Baltimore, a team against which Rogers has a 10-9 record and 4.67 ERA in 28 starts.

BAL: LHP Garrett Olson (6-4, 5.65 ERA)
Olson had one of his worst starts of the season his last time out against Toronto. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks. His ERA jumped almost three runs in his past seven starts. The rookie has never faced the Tigers. He has been much better at home (4-1) than on the road (3-6).


Tidbits

Marcus Thames started at designated hitter on Sunday. When asked whether struggling DH Gary Sheffield will reprise his role during the second half of the season, Leyland replied, "I'm going to DH Sheff the first day back." ... Carlos Guillen received his jersey for the All-Star Game on Sunday morning. A snooping Todd Jones took a look and said, "Man, brand new? So that's why they look so white on TV." He's kidding, of course, because Jones made the AL All-Star team in 2000. ... Speaking of Jones, he tied Rick Aguilera for 14th place on the all-time saves list with his 318th career save on Sunday. ... Tigers outfield prospect Wilkin Ramirez went 1-for-1 with a walk in Sunday's XM All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. ... ESPN's "SportsCenter" filmed the latest episode of its "Titletown USA" series in front of the giant tiger statue outside Comerica Park on Sunday morning.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Fri., July 18: Tigers (Armando Galarraga 7-3, 3.27) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie 5-7, 3.49), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., July 19: Tigers (Nate Robertson 6-8, 5.26) at Orioles (Daniel Cabrera 6-5, 4.33), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., July 20: Tigers (Justin Verlander 7-9, 4.15) at Orioles (Brian Burres 7-5, 5.02), 1:35 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Thames, LF
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, DH
Rodriguez, C
Renteria, SS
Inge, 3B

Baltimore
Roberts, 2B
Jones, CF
Markakis, RF
Huff, DH
Millar, 1B
Mora, 3B
Hernandez, R, C
Payton, LF
Fahey, SS

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First Pitch 88 degrees; Partly Sunny, Humid, Winds SE 6mph

Go Tigers, Go Kenny! Let's get this 4games sweep!

GO GUYS!!!!

Go Tigers! You can do this!

92 degrees right now in Baltimore

yeowch

At least they play Thursday Night Games in Baltimore

Unlike the Tigers!


Always Thursday Afternoon day games at Comerica!

Hot here too

Damnit! Is anyone working the blog?

MAGGS IS BACK!!!!

But that means.... no matt

LETS GO GRANDY!!!

Psh, K for grandy.

Come on Polly.....


JOYCE IS IN THE DUGOUT!!!

Polly out.

1-2-3 tigers.

GO TIGERS!


GO KENNY

Where is the blog?

1 out

not open.

One out.

Two outs

2 outs

Grr, you keep beating me to posting how many outs...

Tigers should have got another day off


FUCK SELIG

End of the 1st


0-0 game

Sorry

who is in charge of the blog?

Why the HELL would you trade this team...? that would be stupid.

MAGGS AT BAT

It must be hot in Baltimore

Leyland not wearing a jacket

17 total pitches for the two pitchers that inning