GDT: 7/19/08 - DET (48-48) AT BAL (46-49) - 7:05 p.m. ET

BALTIMORE -- Matt Joyce was a little incredulous when he received a text message Monday telling him he was the American League Player of the Week. Then he got another, and another.

At this point, the message seems to be out. Joyce is a threat as a left-handed bat in the Tigers' lineup, and manager Jim Leyland is going to use him.

"He's going to play some," Leyland said. "He deserves to."

Joyce will most likely be in the lineup on Saturday, the third game of a four-game series against the Orioles, with right-hander Daniel Cabrera starting for Baltimore.

The award is nice, and he'll get a watch that he plans to save as a keepsake. Just as valuable for him these days, however, is the playing time. The Tigers recalled Joyce from Triple-A Toledo when Magglio Ordonez went on the 15-day disabled list, but he's still around even with Ordonez back.

The difference for Joyce last week wasn't so much an adjustment as a readjustment. He had been sent back to Toledo with instructions to work on watching for offspeed pitches and curveballs, but when he arrived in Detroit, Leyland said, he had to adjust back to Major League fastballs.

Joyce went 5-for-20 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs for his first week or so after being called up again, but four of those hits came in one game July 3 at Seattle. He then went 0-for-6 over his next three games before going on his tear.

"I think I was trying so hard, the first time that I came up, to make a good impression and stay around," Joyce said. "The second time, I just kind of told myself, 'I'm probably going to be up here for two weeks in place of Magglio. I'm just going to go out and have fun, do what I can to help them win. Just relax, have fun and enjoy the time that I'm here.' With that being said, I was pretty relaxed and able to go out there and just forget everything, not worry about the pressures, not worry about producing or trying to hit home runs or trying to do too much; just play the game."

Now that he has stuck around, he's trying to keep the same outlook. That's a little tougher to do as the schedule rolls on and the Tigers' trip to face the Rays nears in two weeks. It would be a homecoming for the Tampa, Fla., native and former Florida Southern College star, but he doesn't want to make plans when family members bring it up.

"Right now," Joyce said, "I'm here in Baltimore."



Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.26 ERA)
Robertson has alternated strong and troublesome starts coming into the second half. He allowed no earned runs against the Cardinals on June 26, then six against the Twins in his next start. He yielded one run in nine innings against the Mariners, but five in his last start against the Twins. If that pattern continues, Robertson would have a strong outing against the Orioles. Helping his case are his career numbers against Baltimore: 4-1 and a 3.05 ERA in seven starts.

BAL: RHP Daniel Cabrera (6-5, 4.33 ERA)
Cabrera has cut down his walks in a major way this season and appears to be on pace to throw 200 innings for the second consecutive season. The right-hander led the league in walks in the past two seasons, but he's had five starts this year in which he didn't walk a single batter. Cabrera has thrown two complete games this season.

Tidbits

Look for Ivan Rodriguez to get Saturday off as part of Leyland's plan to sit him once during this four-game set to avoid overtaxing him. Brandon Inge will get behind the plate, while either Carlos Guillen or Ryan Raburn will start at third. ... Robertson's stinginess against the Orioles stems in large part from his success against Baltimore's big hitters. Nick Markakis is 1-for-11 lifetime against him, while Melvin Mora is 1-for-16. Kevin Millar is 5-for-18.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

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

• Mon., July 21: Tigers (Zach Miner, 3-3, 4.23) at Royals (Luke Hochevar, 6-7, 5.10), 8:10 p.m. ET

• Tue., July 22: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 7-6, 4.62) at Royals (Kyle Davies, 3-1, 4.59), 8:10 p.m. ET

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STARTING LINEUPS

Daniel Cabrera vs. Nate Robertson

Tigers
CF Granderson
2B Polanco
DH Sheffield
RF Ordonez
1B Cabrera
LF Joyce
3B Larish
SS Renteria
C Inge

Orioles
2B Roberts
RF Markakis
3B Mora
DH Huff
1B Millar
LF Scott
CF Jones
C Hernandez
SS Fahey

Another hot, muggy night on Saturday in Baltimore

Temps around 90 at Game Time; Winds around 5-8 mph



Tigers need to win

I have to miss this WHOLE game....
Of course, I am going to a party where I can mess around, swim, and talk to some awesome people.....
But still! I want to see the game!

GO TIGERS!

TigersGirl wrote:

I have to miss this WHOLE game....
Of course, I am going to a party where I can mess around, swim, and talk to some awesome people.....
But still! I want to see the game!

GO TIGERS!

hope you/we don't get rained out!

Live blog open!

Thank You

Sacks packed with Sox Tigers, no outs!

HOME RUN MIGUEL CABRERA!!!

4-0 Tigers

HOME RUN JEFF LARISH!!!

6-0 Tigers.

Daniel Cabrera isn't helping my fantasy team

Nate better not blow this....but he will

6+ run lead before the first pitch though

Are we doing GDT updates?

6-2 Tigers in the first.

Mora sucks! 3 Home runs in this series? Who the hell does he think he is, Thames?

No, he thinks Nate Robertson is pitching.

lmao

7-2 Tigers

Nate has his work cut out for him to lose this one.

Keep it up!

7-2 Tigers

Wooohooo Jeff I you!

7-4 Tigers. Robertson not doing good

7-5 Tigers. Pitching change: someone better than Robertson will now pitch for the Tigers.

Tigers blow it. 8-7 Orioles.

What a game!

8-7 O's after 3!

9-7 Orioles. Casey Fossum now tries to pitch for the Tigers.

Tigers catching up! 9-8 O's.

Tigers take the lead only to blow it!