GDT: 8/1/09 - DET (53-48) AT CLE (43-60) - 7:05 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND -- Welcome to the dog days of August. For the Tigers, those days have dogged them more than most.

While Detroit made moves at the July 31 Trade Deadline aimed towards a late-season drive over the last several years, what followed has usually driven the Tigers in the wrong direction. Last year's 11-17 August mark dropped the Tigers off the fringe of the American League Central race after they went 13-13 in July. A year earlier, an 11-18 August mark dropped Detroit from a game up in the division to 5 1/2 games back and down for good.

Even when the Tigers made it to the postseason in 2006, their 13-16 August record started a late-season swoon that eventually cost them the division crown and wedged them into the Wild Card slot for October. Like 2007, they had a winning record in every month prior to that. They made it to the World Series in spite of August.

Not since Phil Garner's frantic late-season charge in 2000 have the Tigers posted a winning record in August. The eight years since have earned Detroit a reputation as a team of late-season fades. With a slim lead in the AL Central, the Tigers can't afford for that reputation to repeat.

All three teams in the Central race made moves at Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline to gear up for a run. Now it comes down to who can make a move on the field and in the standings.

"One thing I learned a long time ago, it really is all determined on the field," team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said while talking about the Jarrod Washburn trade Friday. "You can make moves. You hope that they help you. In this spot a couple times, they have helped a great deal. But it still comes down to how well you play.

"I think we have a good enough club to win, but saying it doesn't mean anything. You have to go out there and you have to do it. It's a three-team race. I think it'll be a three-team race. You have three good clubs going in, and we're all in a position where nobody's got a perfect team this year."

The Tigers certainly haven't been perfect, but they've used pitching and defense to put themselves in front. Now, if anything, August should be an opportunity for them to take command. After Saturday's game and Sunday's series finale at Cleveland, they'll be home for 13 of their next 17, including a big division clash against the Twins.

A win Saturday against the last-place Indians, however, would be big. It's the kind of road game the Tigers need to win to help their cause once they get to the tougher parts of the schedule.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (9-7, 4.62 ERA)
Though the Tigers could've skipped a starter with the off-day Thursday, manager Jim Leyland said that Porcello will stay on turn and start on an extra day's rest after struggling in each of his first two games out of the All-Star break. His five runs allowed in each outing, including over 5 1/3 innings in his last start Sunday night against the White Sox, have raised his ERA by nearly a half-run in that span. Though Leyland noted a slight drop in velocity, his bigger concern was a curveball that didn't look sharp. Porcello beat the Indians at Progressive Field on May 10 with five innings of one-run ball, and the Tigers would no doubt love for him to find that form again.

CLE: CLE: LHP Jeremy Sowers (3-7, 5.15 ERA)
Sowers provided what the coaching staff had wanted in his last outing Saturday against Seattle -- a strong finish. He has had the tendency to lose his effectiveness as he turns over the lineup. But he went seven innings, matching his season high, allowing no runs and four hits in a 10-3 victory. He said he was particularly pleased with getting out of trouble in the second, third and fourth innings without damage. He has a career 2-3 record against Detroit with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.

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Tidbits

... The Tigers' athletic training site will check on Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson on Saturday after their simulated game Friday. If they feel well, they're expected to start their Minor League rehab stints next week with an eye toward being ready for Detroit once rosters expand Sept. 1.
... Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-8 lifetime off Sowers with a home run and three RBIs.
... Curtis Granderson leads the American League with 16 road home runs this season.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-9, 4.84 ERA) at Indians (Carl Pavano, 8-8, 5.66 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 12-5, 3.16 ERA) vs. Orioles (Chris Tillman, (0-0, 5.79 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-6, 2.64 ERA) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Tigersaint, move the powers that be to wake up the Tigers!!!
oh MY last night was embarassing

Tigers need to win these games against the Indians and Orioles


No doubt about it

Game On

Both teams wearing Negro League uniforms?

Top of the first

0-0 game

2 outs


Maggs at bat

Flies out to right



Bottom of the First

Tigers 0

Indians coming to bat

Porcello on the mound

Sizemore at bat

1-2 count

2-2

3-2 count

Walked Sizemore

Cabrera at bat

0-1

1-1

Sizemore steals second

1-2 count

Strikeout


1 down

Choo at bat

Choo grounds to first; Miggy mishandes it

Runners on the corners


Error on Miggy


Peralta at bat

I think I spelled it wrong; but who cares


Base hit

1-0 Indians

Runners at first and second

Hafner at bat


strike 1

Hits into a DP short to second to first

Inning over


1-0 Tribe after the 1st

top of the second inning



Tigers up to bat

Miggy at bat

0-2 count

1-2 count

Miggy flies to RF


1 down

Thames at bat

1-0 count

2-0 count