GDT: 8/15/09 - DET (61-54) VS KC (45-70) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- As is the case with many teams around Major League Baseball late in the regular season, the Tigers have some issues with the health and depth of their starting rotation.

Those issues became more pronounced this week, when Rick Porcello was suspended five games by MLB for hitting Kevin Youkilis in the back on Tuesday night -- an incident that resulted in the benches clearing and a similar five-game suspension for the Red Sox corner infielder.

While the suspension only affects the timing of Porcello's next start, it has wreaked havoc on the Tigers' rotation this week. Combined with Armando Galarraga's severe flu bug, Detroit has had to shuffle its rotation and bullpen several times -- from Chris Lambert having to pitch in long relief on Tuesday following Porcello's ejection to Zach Miner making an emergency start on Wednesday in Boston. Miner's start came just two days after he pitched two innings against the Red Sox in relief.

While the steady and reliable Edwin Jackson gets the start against Kansas City on Saturday, there is some uncertainty as to whom may start on Sunday. If Galarraga is healthy enough, he is likely to get the call. The off-day on Monday will help the Tigers get their rotation back in line. But Galarraga is not yet a guarantee.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland is "unsure when [Galarraga] may be starting."

"He went about two or three days where he didn't eat anything, so he has been pretty weak," Leyland said on Friday afternoon.

The Tigers did recall Eddie Bonine from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, sending reliever Freddy Dolsi back down. Leyland indicated that he doesn't expect that Bonine will start on Sunday. The skipper also admitted that the starting-pitching options are limited if any other significant injuries were to occur.

"If anyone's not healthy, that's a problem," Leyland said. "I think if [our current starters] can stay healthy, we'll be OK."

Dontrelle Willis will be making a Minor League rehab start in Toledo on Monday, but there is no timetable on when or if the lefty will be back in Detroit this season.

In fact, there are three Tigers starters currently on rehab at the organization's Triple-A affiliate, including Willis. Jeremy Bonderman has struggled a bit since returning to Toledo, having giving up six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in four appearances out of the bullpen. Nate Robertson has appeared in two games of the 'pen, going 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA (three earned runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings).

Willis' last action at any level was June 14 in a loss in Pittsburgh. He has pitched in two games for Toledo this year, with both starts coming in early May. In those games, Willis was 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA.

Leyland isn't getting overly excited about the return of any of those three veterans.

"When those guys are ready, they'll be ready," Leyland said. "Until they are, I'm not going to worry. I hope they all get back healthy soon."

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (8-5, 2.79 ERA)
Jackson has been chased with more than 100 pitches through four innings in two of his past three starts. The two outings were no-decisions for Jackson before the Tigers lost late, but both put Detroit's bullpen in a bind to fill innings in the opener of a series. Jackson's a noted fly-ball pitcher who can induce swings and misses, but he gave up more than three times as many balls in the air than on the ground, and he had just five swinging strikes -- tied for his lowest of the season. He lost his only start against the Royals this year with four runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings on May 26 in Kansas City.

KC: RHP Luke Hochevar (6-5, 5.38 ERA)
Hochevar had just one bad inning -- a four-run second -- but that was enough for him to absorb the loss last Sunday against the A's. Two home runs did all the damage in that inning. Hochevar recovered to pitch five scoreless innings afterward. He did a much better job of rationing his pitches -- he reached 114 in seven after expending 112 in just five innings in his previous start. This will be Hochevar's first start against Detroit this season; in his career, he's 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA against the Tigers.

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Tidbits

... Gerald Laird got the start on Friday catching Jarrod Washburn, but Leyland said he may break in rookie catcher Alex Avila with the lefty some time in the near future. Up until this point, Avila hasn't caught Justin Verlander, Jackson or Washburn, but that may change. "I think I may stay away from having him catch Verlander, because [the All-Star righty] has a good thing going with Laird," Leyland said.

... There is a difference in the Verlander who can throw 99 or 100 mph in 2009 and the Verlander who threw that hard in past years, Leyland said. "Now, he's throwing 100 mph in the strike zone," Leyland said. "His mechanics are better. But that's [yesterday's news]." Leyland said that ESPN tracked all of Verlander's fastballs on Thursday in Boston, and the network reported that of his more than 80 fastballs, Verlander's average velocity was 97 mph.

... Placido Polanco is hitting .433 with runners in scoring position since June 26, fifth best in the American League.

... Josh Anderson made his first appearance in Detroit on Friday since being traded to Kansas City in late July. He is hitting .182 in 22 at-bats with the Royals, but he has had a lot more on his mind. Anderson and his wife gave birth to their first child, a boy, just a few days after he was dealt. Anderson has only spent about six or seven hours with his newborn (the day he was born), but he is happy that his wife and son are both doing well in Kentucky. "I'm just fortunate to have been going from one great clubhouse and group of guys [in Detroit] to another [in Kansas City]," Anderson said Friday. "The Royals have been great and understanding of my situation with my new son."

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 6-10, 5.23 ERA) vs. Royals (Kyle Davies, 4-8, 6.11 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 10-7, 4.34 ERA) vs. Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 12-4, 2.72 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

ROYALS

1. David DeJesus, LF
   
2. Mitch Maier, CF
   
3. Billy Butler, 1B
   
4. Mike Jacobs, DH
   
5. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
   
6. Mark Teahen, RF
   
7. Brayan Pena, C
   
8. Alex Gordon, 3B
   
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
   

P: Luke Hochevar

TIGERS

1. :curtis: Granderson, CF
   
2. :placido: Polanco, 2B
   
3. Thomas, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, DH
   
6. :thames: Thames, LF
   
7. Avila, C
   
8. Inge, 3B
   
9. Santiago, SS
   

P: :jackson: Edwin Jackson

Go Ed!

84 degrees at game time

South Winds at 5mph

Partly Cloudy

Edwin should be like 10-3....

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
David DeJesus flies out to left fielder Marcus Thames.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Thames.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Billy Butler homers (14) on a fly ball to left center field. Mitch Maier scores.
KC 2, DET 0



B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Jacobs lines out softly to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Alberto Callaspo lines out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.
Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. Clete Thomas to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to right fielder Mark Teahen. Clete Thomas scores. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd. KC 2, DET 1



B:1 S:2 O:3 - Marcus Thames singles on a line drive to
center fielder Mitch Maier. Miguel Cabrera scores. Carlos Guillen out
at 3rd, center fielder Mitch Maier to first baseman Billy Butler to
third baseman Alex Gordon to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to first
baseman Billy Butler.
KC 2, DET 2 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Mark Teahen swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brayan Pena grounds out softly, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Marcus Thames.

KC 2, DET 2 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Alex Avila swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge on foul tip.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago homers (7) on a line drive to right field.
DET 3, KC 2


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

DET 3, KC 2 after 2 innings

Gooo Tigers! Hopefully, now that we're back at home, we can get a little bit of a lead going in the Central.

Minny lost today, Cleveland won, Chicago is in Oakland.

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Yuniesky Betancourt walks.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
David DeJesus singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Alex Avila. Yuniesky Betancourt to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Mitch Maier on foul tip.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Billy Butler pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Mike Jacobs flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

DET 3, KC 2 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Placido Polanco doubles (27) on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Clete Thomas flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Placido Polanco scores.
DET 4, KC 2

Miggy!

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out softly, pitcher Luke Hochevar to first baseman Billy Butler. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Marcus Thames grounds out sharply, third baseman Alex Gordon to first baseman Billy Butler.

DET 4, KC 2 after 3 innings

There is NO place like home if you're the Tigers.

Inning 4
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Alberto Callaspo singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

gdennis59 wrote:

There is NO place like home if you're the Tigers.

that is for sure!

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Mark Teahen swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brayan Pena singles on a fly ball to left fielder Marcus Thames. Alberto Callaspo to 2nd.

How are ya, GoGetEm?

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Gordon flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Alberto Callaspo to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Yuniesky Betancourt grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


DET 4, KC 2 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to right fielder Mark Teahen.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Brandon Inge grounds into a force out,
pitcher Luke Hochevar to second baseman Alberto Callaspo. Alex Avila
out at 2nd. Brandon Inge to 1st.

Hmmmm.

Avila catching Ed?

Nice! He really should be our full time starter.

gdennis59 wrote:

How are ya, GoGetEm?

good, was preparing the church bulletin and getting the music overheads ready for church tomorrow. busy, busy...

how are you doing? And how are your friends who were in the car accident doing?

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mark Teahen. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gdennis59 wrote:

How are ya, GoGetEm?

good, was preparing the church bulletin and getting the music overheads ready for church tomorrow. busy, busy...

how are you doing? And how are your friends who were in the car accident doing?

I'm pretty not so good. Just a horrible weekend.

They're alot better. The one in the hospital was home the next day. He had 7 stitches in his head and 2 in his eye brow. But they're both good now.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to first baseman Billy Butler. Brandon Inge to 3rd. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

Loaded for Polly, then Miguel!

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco lines out to right fielder Mark Teahen.