GDT: 9/29/10 - GM 1 - DET (80-76) AT CLE (66-91) - 4:00 p.m. ET

Talbot gets call as streaking Tribe face Tigers

By Alex DiFilippo / MLB.com

The Tigers and Indians still find themselves in races to close out the season. Granted, they aren't the playoff races both clubs had hoped for at the start of the season, but they are races nonetheless.

Detroit is trying to catch the White Sox for second place in the American League Central. Entering Tuesday, the Tigers are three games back with six remaining -- all of which are on the road. And Detroit has struggled away from Comerica Park, posting a 28-47 record, which includes six straight losses at Progressive Field.

If the Tigers can catch the White Sox, it will mark the fourth time in five years the club has finished as the runner-up in the division.

"Sure," Tigers manager Jim Leyland responded when asked if finishing second meant more than finishing third.

"Finishing second is really very simple. It's not as good as finishing first but it's better than finishing third. It's really not hard to spell out. Everybody always wants to have a winning record. You want to win as many as you can. That's what we are trying to do."

The Indians, well, they are in a race just not to finish in last place in the AL Central. Monday's 6-3 win in the series opener helped Cleveland hold a game-and-a-half lead over the cellar-dwelling Royals.

"That's a big win for us to get another game up on the Royals," closer Chris Perez said of his club's victory on Sunday over Kansas City. "Obviously, we don't want to finish last. Finishing in fourth [place in the American League Central] would be awesome."

Tigers starter Max Scherzer hasn't lost to a divisional foe since his last outing in Cleveland on July 16, when he allowed four earned runs through five innings. Actually, Scherzer has struggled in both starts at Progressive Field this season. Way back on May 9, the right-hander allowed five earned runs through five innings.

But Scherzer has been on a tear of late for the Tigers. He's posted back-to-back wins, allowing a total of two earned runs through 15 2/3 innings with 19 strikeouts. Scherzer has victories in five of his last six decisions.

Although the Tigers won't be in the playoffs this year, Leyland can't help but get excited about the one-two punch of Tigers ace Justin Verlander and Scherzer next season.

"Scherzer's really good," Leyland said, "You know, Verlander and Scherzer back-to-back, or vice versa, however it works out, that's pretty good."

Indians starter Mitch Talbot will take the hill opposite Scherzer. Talbot, who was in the discussion for a potential American League Rookie of the Year award earlier this season, has struggled down the stretch.

The right-hander is 1-7 with a 5.89 ERA over his past 12 outings. His start on Thursday was his first since Sept. 12, as he dealt with a bout of right shoulder inflammation. He gave up three runs over five innings against the Royals.

Pitching at Progressive Field hasn't been beneficial to Talbot, either. He's 3-9 with a 6.31 ERA in 16 starts, compared to 6-4 with a 2.58 ERA in 11 starts on the road.

However, Talbot's job may have gotten a little bit easier after Monday night. American League Most Valuable Player candidate Miguel Cabrera went down with a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, but it's unlikely he will play on Tuesday.

Indians: Brantley finishing strong
It's been an up and down season for Michael Brantley.

The center fielder started the home opener for the Indians, but was sent down to Triple-A Columbus after only nine games in the big leagues. He held a .156 average (5-for-32) with no homers and three RBIs before the demotion.

However, he saw those numbers spike in Columbus. He played 67 games for the Clippers and hit .319 with four home runs and 29 RBIs. Since being recalled in early July, Brantley has hit .250 with 18 RBIs and three homers for the Indians. So far in September, Brantley has recorded at least one hit in every game he's started, minus an 0-for-5 outing on Sept. 20. He went 1-for-3 on Monday.

"After starting the year [with the Indians] and struggling a little bit, he came down here and was a real pro in the way he went about his business," said Triple-A Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh, who joined Cleveland's staff on Thursday for the remainder of the season.

"To see him turn it around toward the end of the season, it's well deserved because he really worked hard."

Tigers: Peralta returns to Cleveland
Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta returned to Cleveland on Monday for the first time since he was traded at the end of July. He went 2-for-4 against his former team.

Peralta entered Monday's series opener batting .258 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 51 games since joining the Tigers. He left Cleveland in July with a .246 average, seven homers and 43 RBIs in 91 games.

Peralta has said he'd like to stay in Detroit for next season. The club owns a $7.25 million option on the 28-year-old for next season.

"I feel really good right now with everything that I'm doing, defense, offense," Peralta said. "They're happy with what I do, and I'm happy, too."

Worth noting
Indians closer Chris Perez and his wife, Melanie, welcomed the birth of their son, Maxwell Alexander, on Friday.

... Indians manager Manny Acta doesn't expect second baseman Jason Donald (bruised right index finger) to play again this season.

... If Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon starts on Tuesday, it will mark his 140th game played this season for the 15th consecutive year, something just four other Major League players have accomplished.

...The home team has won 14 of the 16 games played between the two clubs.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (12-10, 3.40 ERA)
Scherzer has won back-to-back starts over division foes and has victories in five of his last six decisions in this late-season tear. He hasn't lost in the AL Central since his last visit to Cleveland July 16, when he paid for five walks.

INDIANS: RHP Mitch Talbot (9-13, 4.61 ERA)
Making his first start since Sept. 12 after a bout with right shoulder inflammation, Talbot yielded three runs over five innings in Thursday's loss to the Royals. The rookie righty is 1-7 with a 5.89 ERA over his past 12 outings.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 6-3 loss to the Indians last night, snapping the club’s four-game winning streak. Armando Galarraga (4-8) took the loss for Detroit after allowing five runs in 4.2 innings of work. Austin Jackson finished with two hits and two RBI for the Tigers, while Jhonny Peralta added two hits and an RBI. The Tigers continue their final road trip of the season with the second game of a three-game series at Cleveland this evening. Detroit concludes the season with a four-game series in Baltimore beginning on Thursday night.

MIGGY UPDATE: Miguel Cabrera left last night’s game at Cleveland in the seventh inning and he was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain after X-Rays were negative. Cabrera will be re-evaluated further today.

CENTRAL FOCUS: The Tigers continue a 12-game stretch this evening at Cleveland in which all of the club’s games are against opponents from the American League’s Central Division. Detroit has posted a 21-8 record in the last 29 games against the division after the club compiled a 17-24 record in the first 41 games against the division this season.

RECENT SUCCESS VERSUS THE INDIANS: Since the start of the 2009 season, the Tigers have compiled a 23-11 record against Cleveland. Detroit is fourth among all major league clubs with a 3.32 ERA (308.2IP/114ER) versus the Indians during that stretch.

JACKSON SWINGS INTO ACTION VERSUS CLEVELAND: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 13 of his 15 games against Cleveland this season, hitting .403 (27x67) with 17 runs scored, eight doubles, a triple, four RBI and seven stolen bases. He is tops among all major league players with 17 runs scored and 27 hits against Cleveland this season, while he is tied for the lead with eight doubles and is second with seven stolen bases.

STARTING WELL: Tigers starting pitchers have registered a quality start in 22 of the club’s last 35 games dating back to August 20. During the 35-game stretch, Detroit’s starting pitchers have compiled a 17-5 record and 3.28 ERA (236.1IP/86ER).

OFFENSE ON THE UPTICK: Tigers hitters are batting .288 (384x1333) with 218 runs scored, 69 doubles, 10 triples and 41 home runs over the club’s last 36 games dating back to August 19. Detroit leads American League clubs with a .288 batting average, 218 runs scored and 384 hits during that stretch, while the club is second with 69 doubles.

DAMON’S ONE GAME SHY OF 140 FOR 15TH STRAIGHT SEASON: Johnny Damon has played in 139 games for the Tigers, one game shy of playing in 140 games for the 15th straight season. With one more game played, he would be the fifth player in major league history to appear in 140-or-more games for at least 15 consecutive seasons. He would join Hank Aaron (16 seasons), Brooks Robinson (16 seasons), Pete Rose (16 seasons) and Willie Mays (15 seasons) in accomplishing the feat. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters tonight’s game hitting .343 (60x175) with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 36 RBI over his last 47 games dating back to August 5. He is second among all American League players with a .629 slugging percentage during the stretch, while he is tied for second with 26 extra-base hits, is third with 36 RBI, tied for third with 60 hits, 14 doubles and 12 home runs and is fourth with a .343 batting average.

FIRST DUO WITH 175-OR-MORE STRIKEOUTS SINCE 1974: Justin Verlander (209 strikeouts) and Max Scherzer (181 strikeouts) are the first duo of Tigers pitchers with a 175-or-more strikeouts in a season since 1974. Verlander and Scherzer became the first Tigers duo to do so since Mickey Lolich (202 strikeouts) and Joe Coleman (177 strikeouts) accomplished the feat during the 1974 season.

ROOKIE HIT PARADE: Tigers rookie hitters collected seven hits last night against the Indians, raising the season total to 506 hits by Tigers rookies. The 506 hits by rookies are the most by Tigers rookies since the rookies on the 1929 club established the franchise record with 590 hits. (Source: STATS LLC)

JACKSON CLOSING IN ON EVEN RARER ROOKIE TERRITORY: Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game at Cleveland one hit shy of 180 hits for the season to become just the fourth player in major league history since 1901 to collect at least 100 runs scored, 180 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases as a rookie. Jackson would join Joe Jackson (1911), Juan Samuel (1984) and Hanley Ramirez (2006) in accomplishing the feat.

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23, Out for Season)


Out for Season



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Wednesday, September 29,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (18-8, 3.31 ERA)) AT INDIANS (RHP Josh Tomlin (5-4, 4.50 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Thursday, September 30,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (8-9, 5.18 ERA)) AT ORIOLES (RHP Chris Tillman (1-5, 6.56 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Friday, October 1,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (10-11, 5.01 ERA)) AT ORIOLES (RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 3.98 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Saturday, October 2,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-8, 4.62 ERA)) AT ORIOLES (LHP Brian Matusz (10-14, 3.98 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, October 3,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (12-10, 3.40 ERA)) AT ORIOLES (RHP Brad Bergesen (8-10, 4.90 ERA)), 1:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)