GDT: 8/2/09 - DET (54-48) AT CLE (43-61) - 1:05 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND -- While the Tigers look forward to next week's triple punch of Justin Verlander, Jarrod Washburn and Edwin Jackson, they'll get Armando Galarraga for Sunday's series finale here against the Indians. If only for a few more runs of support, that would be a better option than it looks.

Though Galarraga went winless in four July starts, he pitched to a 3.29 ERA for the month and lasted at least seven innings in three outings. Seven innings of one-run ball went for naught against the Royals on July 6. Two weeks later, his 7 1/3 innings of one-hit ball earned him just a no-decision against Felix Hernandez and the Mariners.

His ERA has dropped by a half-run in a month and 0.81 runs over the last five weeks. But with lackluster run support since going 3-0 in April, his frustration level sounded like it's on the rise.

"I don't know," Galarraga said after Monday's 5-2 loss at Texas. "I wish I had better luck, but I don't know."

Take away a miserable May, Galarraga said, and his numbers would be vastly different. He allowed 28 runs on 40 hits over 29 2/3 innings that month, ballooning his ERA, and he has spent the rest of the season trying to recover. His ERA was as high as 5.65 in late June, and his confidence was right around rock bottom.

Now, his ERA is back under 5.00, and he believes he can pitch key innings for this team.

"I don't pitch that bad," Galarraga said of his recent outings. "I don't pitch great if you compare me to Jackson, but Jackson's having a great year."

Galarraga still has a chance for a decent year with a strong finish. A strong outing Sunday would go a long way towards that. It would also be a godsend for a Tigers bullpen that has pitched 12-plus innings over the last two nights thanks to back-to-back extra-inning games, covering 25 innings and 8 1/2 hours of baseball.

Manager Jim Leyland said he wants to give Brandon Lyon one more day off after he pitched three innings Friday night. No Tigers reliever pitched more than one inning Saturday, but Fernando Rodney, Ryan Perry, Bobby Seay and Zach Miner all have pitched back-to-back nights.

With no off-day scheduled for the Tigers until Aug. 17, Leyland has some tinkering to do. Verlander, Washburn and Jackson could provide it next week, but he'd no doubt love to get innings from Galarraga.

"We're a little messed up right now," Leyland said. "I might have to take a game here to get the bullpen back in sync. That's what happens when you've got to use guys that haven't pitched for a while. There's nothing you can do about it. It's nobody's fault. I'm going to try to get it ironed out."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-9, 4.84 ERA)
Galarraga gets to turn the calendar after a winless July, but the record doesn't indicate how well Galarraga has pitched for the past month. Detroit's mercurial right-hander allowed a 3.29 ERA in four July starts, scattering 21 hits over 27 1/3 innings with eight walks and 18 strikeouts. Three of those last four starts lasted at least seven innings, and the lone exception was a six-inning performance. He gave up four runs over seven innings Monday at Texas, but three of them came in a sixth inning that included a double-error RBI hit and a two-run, two-out double from Hank Blalock.

CLE: CLE: RHP Carl Pavano (8-8, 5.66 ERA)
Pavano has given up 13 runs total against the Blue Jays and Angels in his last two starts. In Anaheim on Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Four of the hits were home runs -- all solo shots. Three of those blasts came in order in the second inning, off the bats of Juan Rivera, Kendry Morales and Mike Napoli. And this came after Pavano gave up four home runs in a loss to the Jays on July 22. Clearly, then, keeping the ball in the yard is an issue for the right-hander. Pavano is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in two starts against the Tigers this season.

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Tidbits

... An official scoring change from Friday night switched an error from Placido Polanco fielding to Curtis Granderson throwing, restoring Polanco's errorless streak. It's now back at 63 games through Saturday. Polanco is expected to rest Sunday.
... Adam Everett is 2-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI off Pavano this season and 5-for-15 lifetime.
... Rodney's first blown save of the season Saturday ended his saves streak at 21 consecutive opportunities, longest by a Detroit closer since Matt Anderson converted 22 straight chances from May 2 to Sept. 28, 2001.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• 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
• Wednesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-5, 2.64 ERA) vs. Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 7-10, 5.37 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

go guys!

Go Tigers!


And they should have kicked out that dumb bitch who leaned over and touched that ball


But I guess because she is a dumb blonde bimbo she gets to stay

If I did that or Catbox did that; we be going to downtown Cleveland jail or something

I' ve seen people kicked out of Comerica for throwing a home run ball back on the field

Bad call by umpire

He was out

sure was!

These umpires are hosing the Tigers so far


That run should not have counted earlier and Sizemore was out


1-0 Cleveland 3rd inning

runner on first


2 down

End of 3


1-0 Indians


Come on Tigers

Get it done

SCORE RUNS!

Miggy at bat

Runner on first

2-0 count


Need a Miggy HR right now

2-1 count

2-2

Miggy loops a pop up; Runner going; doubled off first base; Double play

2 outs


Guillen at bat


He out

Missed it

That was a fast three outs


Bottom of 4th

Indians 1-0

Bottom of the 4th


runner on first

Hafner at bat

1-1 count on Hafner

2-1 count on Hafner

Line drive caught by Everett; runner still on first


1 down

Valbuena at bat

1-0 count

1-1 count

Base hit off Miggy's glove

Runners on first and third

Marte at bat


1-1



2-1

Tigers need a DP here

3-1 count on Marte

2 run double for Marte down the left field line


3-0 Indians

Crowe at bat


1-0

Crowe doubles to right


4-0 Indians


better get the bullpen ready


Knapp out to the mound

Shoppach at bat