GDT: 8/4/09 - DET (55-49) VS BAL (44-61) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Embracing a pennant is something that the newest addition to Detroit's rotation is ready for.

"This is what you play for," said Jarrod Washburn, who was an 18-game winner as part of the Angels' World Series championship team in 2002 and will be making his first start with the Tigers against the Orioles on Tuesday.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland shared this important message with his team Monday afternoon before their four-game home series against the Orioles: Enjoy being in the midst of a pennant race.

Detroit's struggles at the plate have been well-documented. The Tigers are 11th in the American League with a .257 average and 11th in runs scored. Many of those struggles are a mystery to Leyland himself. Yet the Tigers still find themselves in first place heading into Tuesday's game vs. the Orioles.

And for that Leyland is thankful -- and excited. He wanted to get that message out to his players heading into the last two months of the season and it's something he hopes will catch on.

"These are the moments you should embrace [as a player]," Leyland said. "Some of the greatest players in the game never got to play in a pennant race. I don't want our players to feel bad pressure. I want them to feel good pressure.

"Let the little kid in each of them come out. This is fun. Competition is fun. You get to play against the best players in the world and just go out and play your game."

Washburn has his opportunity to join the fun and make his presence felt. Making his Tigers debut at Comerica Park, Washburn is trying to continue the dominant midsummer stretch that made him such an appealing starter on the trade market in the first place.

Washburn has allowed just three runs on 20 hits in 36 2/3 innings over his past five starts, all of them Mariners victories, including seven scoreless innings at Detroit on July 23 and a complete-game one-hitter against the Orioles July 6 in Seattle.

A good debut from Washburn would go a long way, but Leyland knows one bad performance from his new starter or his team won't keep the Tigers from the pennant race. That's the great thing about the game of baseball from the manager's standpoint.

"In this game you have the ability to turn the page and grind it out," Leyland said. "I still like our team a lot. But I want them to have fun, and if something bad happens, forget it and embrace [the game] again the next day."

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Jarrod Washburn (8-6, 2.64 ERA)
Washburn has allowed one run on seven hits over 16 innings against the O's this year.

BAL: LHP Brian Matusz (MLB debut)
Matusz joins the growing list of Orioles rookie pitchers this season when he makes his Major League debut against the Tigers. Although it had not been confirmed by the Orioles as of Saturday, it is likely the 2008 first-round Draft pick will get the start. Matusz has spent the majority of the 2009 season with the team's Double-A affiliate, the Bowie Baysox, where he's compiled a 7-0 record.

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Tidbits

... Carlos Guillen continues to improve health-wise and should be able to play left field and bat right-handed soon, according to Leyland, although there is no set timetable in place.
... Pitchers Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis are all on the disabled list and all were in the Detroit locker room on Monday afternoon. Bonderman and Robertson will join Triple-A Toledo for their injury rehabilitation assignments starting Tuesday.
... Detroit pitchers have struck out 7.14 batters per nine innings this season. That is the highest single-season strikeout per nine innings total by Tigers pitchers in franchise history.
... Detroit relievers have a 2.84 ERA over the past 21 games.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-5, 2.64 ERA) vs. Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 7-10, 5.37 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 9-7, 4.36 ERA) vs. Orioles (David Hernandez, 3-3, 3.28 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-10, 5.22 ERA) vs. Twins (Anthony Swarzak, 3-4, 4.25 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Baltimore AVG
1. Roberts, B, 2B .287
2. Reimold, N, LF .281
3. Markakis, RF .297
4. Jones, A, CF .302
5. Huff, A, DH .255
6. Mora, 3B .256
7. Wigginton, 1B .264
8. Wieters, C .268
9. Izturis, C, SS .255


DETROIT
1. Wilkin Ramirez, LF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Marcus Thames, DH
6. Ryan Raburn, CF
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Adam Everett, SS

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Brian Roberts doubles (38) on a line drive to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Nolan Reimold flies out to center fielder Ryan Raburn. Brian Roberts to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Markakis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Brian Roberts scores.
BAL 1, DET 0

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Adam Jones grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Nick Markakis out at 2nd.

BAL 1, DET 0 after .5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Wilkin Ramirez flies out to center fielder Adam Jones.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco lines out to shortstop Cesar Izturis.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Cesar Izturis to first baseman Ty Wigginton.

BAL 1, DET 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Aubrey Huff singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Melvin Mora batting, passed ball by Gerald Laird, Aubrey Huff to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Melvin Mora grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Ty Wigginton walks.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Matt Wieters singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett. Aubrey Huff scores. Ty Wigginton to 2nd.
BAL 2, DET 0

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Cesar Izturis grounds into double play,
shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Matt Wieters out at 2nd.

BAL 2, DET 0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames doubles (7) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Markakis.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn walks.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to left fielder Nolan Reimold.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird walks. Marcus Thames to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds into a force out, shortstop Cesar Izturis to second baseman Brian Roberts. Gerald Laird out at 2nd.


BAL 2, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brian Roberts flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Nolan Reimold flies out to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Nick Markakis lines out to center fielder Ryan Raburn.

BAL 2, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Damn. Let's go Tigers!!!

Our starters have had rough outings lately...

gogetem

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Wilkin Ramirez swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Cesar Izturis to first baseman Ty Wigginton.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a fly ball to center fielder Adam Jones.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera walks. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gdennis59 wrote:

gogetem

How ya been?

gdennis59 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gdennis59 wrote:

gogetem

How ya been?

ok, how about you?

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Marcus Thames flies out to center fielder Adam Jones.

BAL 2, DET 0 after 3 innings