GDT: 8/12/09 - DET (59-53) AT BOS (64-48) - 7:10 p.m. ET

BOSTON -- Armando Galarraga has been ailing on the mound his past couple of starts. Now, his actual ailment is putting his pitching status in question. And if that status wasn't already a concern to the Tigers, it really is now.

Galarraga has spent the past two nights watching the Tigers from his hotel room, sidelined by some sort of flu bug or sinus infection that has sapped him of energy. He threw a little bit on the side Tuesday, but not a full between-starts session, and it didn't last long.

"He's sick," manager Jim Leyland said.

After Tuesday's 7-5 loss, pitching coach Rick Knapp said there was no news on Galarraga's status. If Galarraga can't go, Knapp said, the Tigers will essentially go with a bullpen start, in which several relievers cover the innings.

The Tigers had a potential spot starter in Chris Lambert, called up last week from the rotation at Triple-A Toledo to pitch in relief in Detroit. But Rick Porcello's ejection from Tuesday's game after a second-inning fracas resulting from his pitch off Kevin Youkilis' back forced Lambert into action for five innings Tuesday night. That other former starter in the Tigers bullpen, Zach Miner, pitched two innings Monday.

Detroit optioned Lambert to Toledo after Tuesday's game and recalled reliever Freddy Dolsi.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, will start Josh Beckett on Wednesday.

Thus, the Tigers are in a bit of a spot. And a halfway healthy Galarraga might have to pitch them out of it.

It wouldn't be the first time for that, even recently. The Tigers needed Galarraga to take on innings two starts ago after Detroit's bullpen pitched 12 innings over the previous two nights. The second-year right-hander gave up eight runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings Aug. 2 at Cleveland.

This one wouldn't be so much a matter of taking on innings, but avoiding an early exit. He lasted at least six innings in six consecutive starts before that loss to the Indians, then lasted five innings and 109 pitches in his last start Friday against the Twins, thanks in part to five walks. His difficulty attacking hitters has been a source of concern for Leyland.

The Red Sox are the same team that expended 105 pitches out of Edwin Jackson on Monday.

"The guys that get pitch counts up are the guys that foul balls off," Leyland said. "They're not working him. They're trying to hit him. You can't work pitchers that throw strikes. Those guys are veteran hitters who can see the ball out of the hand. If it's a ball, they take it."

Another concern will be the status of Miguel Cabrera, who left Tuesday's game with a bruised left hand thanks to a hit-by-pitch from Junichi Tazawa. Cabrera said after the game that the ball hit him around the base of his left thumb, which was sore. If he's pain-free, he hopes to play.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (6-10, 5.23 ERA)
Leyland said Friday he has concerns about Galarraga, whose struggles to attack hitters over his past two starts have stymied what had been a midsummer roll in an otherwise frustrating season. Galarraga has been knocked out before the end of the sixth inning in his past two outings, and he was nearly chased in the second inning of his last start before lasting five innings over 109 pitches on Friday against the Twins. His nibbling at the fringes of the strike zone lately make this a tough matchup for Galarraga in Boston, though he posted a quality start against the Red Sox in defeat on June 3 at Comerica Park.

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.12 ERA)
The ace right-hander continues to come up large for the Red Sox. In his last start, Beckett fired seven shutout innings against the Yankees, taking a no-decision in a game the Red Sox lost in 15 innings. That, following a win over the Orioles in which he also pitched seven scoreless frames. Beckett has been nothing short of brilliant at Fenway Park this season, going 7-0 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 starts. This is Beckett's first start against the Tigers since June 3, when he had a no-hitter going for 6 2/3 innings. Beckett won that game, giving up two hits and three runs, none of which were earned. He walked two and struck out nine.

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Tidbits

... Look for Alex Avila to catch again Wednesday. Leyland has indicated he'd like Avila to catch Porcello and Galarraga, and Gerald Laird to catch Jackson, Justin Verlander and Jarrod Washburn.
... Lambert's five innings marked the longest relief outing for the Tigers since Roman Colon pitched 5 1/3 innings at Kansas City on May 25, 2006, after Mike Maroth left in the first inning with an injury.
... Seventeen of Curtis Granderson's 23 home runs this season have come on the road, tops among American League players.
... Placido Polanco's 12-game hitting streak is his longest since hitting safely in 14 straight games from May 25-June 15, 2005.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 12-6, 3.45 ERA) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 1-2, 5.33 ERA), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 3.12 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 11-7, 2.43 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 8-5, 2.79 ERA) vs. Royals (Luke Hochevar, 6-5, 5.38 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

starting lineups:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .260
Polanco, 2B .279
Thomas, C, LF .261
Thames, DH .257
Guillen, C, 1B .232
Ordonez, RF .272
Avila, C .545
Inge, 3B .253
Everett, SS .240

pitcher: Miner


Boston AVG
Ellsbury, CF .300
Pedroia, 2B .299
Bay, LF .255
Ortiz, D, DH .220
Lowell, 3B .297
Drew, J, RF .251
Kotchman, 1B .281
Varitek, C .223
Green, N, SS .236

pitcher: Beckett

Guillen, C, 1B

oh no, but better than outfield!

Current Conditions

Fenway Park

Cloudy 68 F

Humidity: 87 %

Wind: from the ENE at 8 mph

Barometer: 30.05 in

last updated: 8/12/09 6:05 PM EDT

Min to be the Starting Pitcher. Gala must still be sick as a dog.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas strikes out swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jason Bay walks.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
David Ortiz grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, third baseman Mike Lowell to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Whoo Tigers! Let's avoid this sweep!

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Mike Lowell homers (14) on a fly ball to left field.
BOS 1, DET 0



B:0 S:1 O:1 -
J. D. Drew grounds out softly, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Casey Kotchman pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Varitek swinging.

BOS 1, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila flies out to right fielder J. D. Drew.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Nick Green to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett called out on strikes.

BOS 1, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Green swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Dustin Pedroia doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jason Bay homers (24) on a fly ball to left field. Dustin Pedroia scores.
BOS 3, DET 0

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
David Ortiz swinging.

BOS 3, DET 0 after 3 innings

at 50 pitches, pitch count probably around 60...

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Clete Thomas walks.

Well, I think we should go with a 4 man rotation. Galarraga hasn't done well at all. Either that or call up a good SP.

Ryan Howard just hit a freaking triple

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Marcus Thames swinging.

BOS 3, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Mike Lowell singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas.

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
J. D. Drew singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Mike Lowell to 2nd.

Miner throwing a pattern, Sox know it!