GDT: 7/30/08 - DET (54-52) AT CLEV (46-59) - 7:05 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND -- The good news for Nate Robertson is that he can look at an Indians lineup that doesn't include Casey Blake, the guy who's 11-for-33 with six home runs against Robertson.

"Certainly, it's not going to hurt my feelings," Robertson said.

The bad news is that he can look from the dugout onto the mound and see Cliff Lee, the guy who's leading the Majors in ERA and tied for the lead in wins.

He can't pitch with the opposing hurler in mind, but he can respect him.

"Obviously, Lee has been sharp all year, and he's been consistent," Robertson said. "Any pitcher can be great on any given day. That's baseball. It's a changing game, but it's about consistency. I just have to worry every time I go out, whether it's against Cliff Lee or anybody else, I have to pitch well."

He has done his best to keep his team in low-scoring games recently, though he's winless in his last six starts. His nine innings of one-run ball on July 6 took the Mariners into extra innings before the Tigers pulled out a 2-1 win in the 15th. Two starts earlier, he allowed one unearned run over 6 1/3 innings in another no-decision before the Tigers pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.

By contrast, he had a 6-0 lead heading into his first inning of work two starts ago at Baltimore and saw it vanish by the third. It's highly doubtful he'll have any sort of lead like that on Wednesday.

Beating a tough pitcher requires two keys, manager Jim Leyland likes to point out. The first requirement is a strong outing from your own pitcher. The second is to grind out a couple runs. The Tigers' lineup will be especially geared for that, with Carlos Guillen off and Curtis Granderson possibly getting some rest. Leyland will again have his team go without batting practice, considering his team won on Tuesday.

Robertson, though, will be focused on his end of the battle.

"If you don't pitch well, you're going to get your team in a hole real quick," Robertson said. "And then you're in trouble.




Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.63 ERA)
Robertson exited his last start to a standing ovation from a sellout Comerica Park of 44,000-plus. He started quick, throwing just 14 pitches in the first two inning, and finished his six innings allowing three runs on five hits. He encountered a pair of jams, but each time he ended the threat by retiring American League home run leader Carlos Quentin. The left-hander departed with a 4-1 lead in the seventh after back-to-back singles, which the bullpen allowed to score. Nonetheless, Robertson rebounded nicely from a rough outing at Baltimore. He faces the Indians for the first time this season. In his career, Robertson is 2-5 with a 4.74 ERA against Cleveland.

CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (14-2, 2.29 ERA)
Lee became the Majors' first 14-game winner with another outstanding effort against the Twins on Friday night. Working ahead and pounding the zone all night, he gave up just two runs on six hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts in eight innings. Lee has now won three straight starts, and he's given up two runs or less in eight of his last nine outings. He only seems to get stronger as his amazing 2008 season progresses. He gave up two runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings in a win over the Tigers on June 9.


Tidbits

Brandon Inge is expected to start at third base on Wednesday, giving Guillen a day off for the first time in over a week since he rejoined the team. ... Leyland said after Tuesday's game that he could start Ryan Raburn in center to rest Granderson, giving him a game out of the starting lineup for the first time since June 15. ... Tigers prospect Casper Wells hit for the cycle on Tuesday night for Double-A Erie, going 4-for-6 with five RBIs. He capped the effort with a solo homer in the top of the ninth.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Thurs., July 31: Tigers (Justin Verlander (8-10, 4.29 ERA)) at Indians (Fausto Carmona (4-3, 4.33 ERA)), 12:05 p.m. ET

• Fri., Aug. 1: Tigers (Zach Miner, 5-3, 3.65) at Rays (Scott Kazmir, 8-5, 2.84), 7:10 p.m. ET

• Sat., Aug. 2: Tigers (To be announced) at Rays (RHP Andy Sonnanstine (10-6, 4.65 ERA)), 6:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .298
Polanco, 2B .308
Thames, LF .258
Ordonez, RF .322
Cabrera, 1B .292
Sheffield, DH .218
Renteria, SS .261
Inge, C .227
Raburn, 3B .240


Cleveland AVG
Sizemore, CF .279
Gutierrez, RF .216
Francisco, DH .269
Peralta, SS .271
Choo, LF .259
Shoppach, C .254
Marte, 3B .179
Garko, 1B .244
A. Cabrera, 2B .185

LIVE BLOG IF USED

83 at Game Time

Winds West at 10


Slight chance of an isolated T Storm

Soooo glad they won last night! LET's GO GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Win today and tomorrow. Lets get this series!!!!

I hope we can hit Lee.

So, I guess Inge better be ready to catch every day since DUMBrosli traded Pudge to the damn Yankees! We get relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth back.

Sure will be sad not seeing Pudge behind the plate

pudgemaggs wrote:

Sure will be sad not seeing Pudge behind the plate

thats for sure

this was beyond stupid, but

"that's baseball"

:puke2:

I can hardly think of Pudge as a Yankee....gag
He's more a Marlin to me!

laprimamirala wrote:

I can hardly think of Pudge as a Yankee....gag
He's a more Marlin to me!

yankee

:curtis:

:placido: pops out

:thames:

Sizemore singles

Gutierrez - GIDP - 2 OUTS

Francisco HOMERS

1-0 Indians

Peralta

grounds out

grounds out to 3rd

Gawd, this is going to hang over us the whole damn game!

:sheff: grounds out - 1-2-3

Indians 1-0

laprimamirala wrote:

Gawd, this is going to hang over us the whole damn game!

I know, I don't even feel like listening to the game!

bottom of 2nd

Choo

Im not too happy about this trade, earlier I wouldnt have minded it, but now, since we got a reliever, its not looking good for Jonesy

Shoppach - doubles

gdennis59 wrote:

Im not too happy about this trade, earlier I wouldnt have minded it, but now, since we got a reliever, its not looking good for Jonesy

I know

I hope Nate can have a good outing!

Hey GoGetEm