GDT: 8/14/08 - DET (58-62) VS TOR (62-59) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- You won't find the Tigers playing much small ball. They live and die by thunderclaps from their big bats.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland talks about it all the time. He doesn't helm a team built for speed. No, it's built for power. When the Tigers win, a few home runs usually help them get over the top, especially when the round-trippers come with runners on base.

"We win games by hitting the ball out of the ballpark and hitting balls in the gaps," Leyland said. "That's what we are. We can't be something we're not."

The Tigers have been homer happy since their memorable turnaround in 2006. That year, they finished the season with the sixth-most home runs in the Major Leagues. Last year, they dropped a bit, but still finished in the top 10. They're back up to sixth this year, thanks to 143 homers in 120 games.

They have plenty of them lately. The Tigers have 87 home runs over the club's last 61 games, which ranks second in the Majors.

However, the problem lies in the impact of those long balls.

Most of them have been of the solo variety. In fact, 10 of Detroit's last 12 dingers have come with the bases empty. Their last multi-run homer came Saturday, when Miguel Cabrera launched a three-run bomb en route to a Tigers victory.

"We haven't found the big blows to put teams away," Leyland said.

Especially in this series. Going into Thursday's finale, the Tigers have stranded 19 runners in three games against the Blue Jays.

The Tigers look to avoid their second series sweep in their last four series.



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (10-4, 3.23 ERA)
Galarraga fired his fourth straight quality start last time out against the Athletics. He gave up a long home run in the first inning, but recovered to allow only one more run over the next 4 2/3 innings. He had his usual poise and control, pinpointing his slider away from right-handed hitters. That pitch has helped him hold righties to a .155 batting average this season, which ranks near the best in the Majors. Galarraga ranks second among rookies in wins, trailing only Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens. He faces the Blue Jays for the second time. The last time, he allowed no runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings.


TOR: RHP Jesse Litsch (8-7, 4.46 ERA)
The Blue Jays recalled the 23-year-old Litsch from Triple-A Syracuse after the right-hander was sent down to work on his sinker. In three starts in the Minors, Litsch went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA, striking out 18 and walking four over 20 innings for the Chiefs. Litsch rejoins the rotation after going 1-6 with a 6.12 ERA in nine starts from June 4-July 21. Toronto is hoping he looks more like the starter that opened the season 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Litsch has never faced the Tigers in his career.


Tidbits

Injured reliever Todd Jones threw another bullpen session on Wednesday and reported no problems. The Tigers expect him back on Friday. Leyland couldn't say whether Jones will become part of the closing rotation. "I don't know what Todd's going to do," he said. "I haven't any idea how Todd's going to be." ...

Outfielder Marcus Thames remains day-to-day with inflammation in his right shoulder. He worked on a stationary hand bike for several minutes before Wednesday's game. ...

Leyland said Justin Verlander will likely pitch as scheduled next Saturday. ...

Magglio Ordonez extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games with a single in the sixth. ...

Rain delayed Wednesday's game against the Jays for 49 minutes in the seventh inning. ...

Home-plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth ejected Gary Sheffield in the seventh inning for arguing a called third strike.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Fri., Aug 15: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (7-8, 5.84 ERA)) vs. Orioles (LHP Chris Waters (1-0, 4.50 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., Aug 16: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (8-13, 4.77 ERA)) vs. Orioles (RHP Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 5.16 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., Aug 17: Tigers (RHP Zach Miner, 6-4, 3.41 ERA) vs. Orioles (LHP Garrett Olson, 8-6, 6.06 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., Aug 18: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers, 8-10, 4.95 ERA) at Rangers (RHP Scott Feldman, 4-5, 5.18 ERA), 8:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

75 degrees at Game Time

Mix of Clouds and Sun

NE WIND 5-10

Slight chance of showers

1 in the books...no score...where is everyone?

Matt Stairs K's to start the 2nd

Lind walks. 1 on, 1 out

Overbay flies out to LF. 1 on 2 out

Zaun K's....3 outs. Runner stranded at 1st. 2 K's for Gala

Tigers strand 2 in the bot. of the 2nd. Still no score

John McDonald singles to start the 3rd.

Inglett K's. 1 on, 1 out. 3 K's for Gala!

Scutaro Flies out to M Joyce in Foul Territory. 1 on 2 outs

Hey, there's a game going on now, isn't there?

Yeah...there sure is! LOL

Sorry...I was on the phone....

I wish I could watch it. Stuck at work

Cabrera grounds into DP. Maggs out at 2nd. 3 outs. No score after 3

3rd inning.

bobrob2004 wrote:

I wish I could watch it. Stuck at work

I know how ya feel. I'm listening to it on mobile gameday audio. lol

Wells grounds out to B Inge to start the 4th.

M. Stairs grounds out to B Inge. 2 up, 2 down. 2 outs on 4 pitches for Gala.

Lind flies out to LF. 7 pitches, 3 outs.

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

Wells grounds out to B Inge to start the 4th.

Hey, Inge is playing 3B! I guess in order to improve at catcher, one must play 3B...

Well...I think it's more of the same that JL did with Pudge. Give him a day off from catching in a day game after a night game. Gotta save those knees!

well...time to start getting ready for work....have a good one!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

well...time to start getting ready for work....have a good one!

Thanks, try to have a good day at work!

Toronto scored a run somehow, 1-0 Blue Birds.

Still 1-0 Birds.

Still 1-0 Birds, but the Tigers have doubled their hits since last I checked. They now have a total of 4!

Tigers tied it up somehow. 1-1

WAHOO!!! A TIE! NOW LETS GET AHEAD AND WIN!!!

Tigers take a 5-1 lead somehow!