GDT: 7/5/11 - DET (45-41) AT LAA (45-41) - 10:05 p.m. ET

Verlander, Haren to square off in Anaheim

By Alex Ruppenthal / MLB.com | 7/5/2011 12:40 AM ET

Dan Haren knows what he's up against Tuesday.

The Angels' right-hander will face the Tigers' Justin Verlander, who leads the American League in wins and strikeouts and has given up the fewest walks and hits per nine innings.

One pitcher whose first half compares with Verlander's is Angels starter Jered Weaver.

"I don't think anybody's even close to those two guys," Haren said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of facing the Tigers."

Haren isn't having a bad season himself. He is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA, 10th in the AL.

"They're totally different in the way they pitch," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Verlander has that electric power stuff. He relies on stuff and movement, changing movement from fastball to breaking ball to changeup. As opposed to Dan Haren, who relies on locating pitches with a different variety of looks. They have different ways of going about it, but are two of the best pitchers in baseball."

Surprisingly, several Angels hitters have hit Verlander well in their careers. Maicer Izturis, Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Erick Aybar have all hit better than .300 against Detroit's ace.

The Angels won the opener of the three-game series, 5-1, on Monday.

Tigers: Knapp key in Verlander's development
The Tigers fired pitching coach Rick Knapp over the weekend, but manager Jim Leyland said Knapp was instrumental in the development of several of Detroit's pitchers.

"If you are going to shed some of that blame to Rick Knapp, about the overall staff not doing as well as we expected, you also have to give him credit for [Jose] Valverde and Verlander and [Al] Alburquerque and other guys," Leyland said.

Angels: Looking to keep pace with Texas
The Angels moved into a first-place tie with the Rangers on Sunday, the first time they've been at the top of the division since May 27.

The Angels have won six of seven and each of their last six series, compiling a 15-6 record in their last 21 games.

• Abreu entered Monday's game a career .335 hitter against the Tigers, fourth-highest among active players.

Worth noting:
• The Angels are 51-28 against the Tigers since 2002.

• If Verlander wins Tuesday, he will become the third Tigers pitcher in 23 years to win eight straight starts, joining Jeremy Bonderman (2007) and Dave Mlicki (1999).

• Verlander has gone at least six innings in each of his 18 starts this season.


Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.32 ERA)

Verlander gets his first start in July after going 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA and better than eight innings per start in June. He has a shot to become the American League's first 12-game winner. He has never lost at Angel Stadium.


Angels: RHP Dan Haren (8-5, 2.85 ERA)

In search of his offspeed stuff, Haren found it during 7 1/3 dominant innings, holding the Nationals to two hits on Wednesday. After a seven-start winless stretch, he has four wins in his past six outings and appears to have found his groove.


Game Information



RESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
- Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right forearm flexor mass inflammation, 15-day disabled list on June 30),
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 15-day disabled list on May 11),
• INF Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30), Rehab with Toledo
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).


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• Wednesday, July 6:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA)) AT
Angels (RHP Tyler Chatwood (5-4, 3.83 ERA)),
3:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Thursday, July 7:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.90 ERA)) AT
Royals (LHP Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Friday, July 8:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (7-6, 4.96 ERA)) AT
Royals (RHP Kyle Davies (1-7, 7.77 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS
1. Jackson, CF
2. Boesch, LF
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, DH
5. Martinez, 1B
6. Peralta, SS
7. Avila, C
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Kelly, 3B


ANGELS
1. Izturis, 3B
2. Hunter, RF
3. Abreu, DH
4. Wells, LF
5. Kendrick, 2B
6. Aybar, SS
7. Trumbo, 1B
8. Bourjos, CF
9. Mathis, C

DET - Top 1st
B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson pops out to first baseman Mark Trumbo in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Brennan Boesch out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Dan Haren. Brennan Boesch to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

LAA - Bot 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Maicer Izturis flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Bobby Abreu called out on .

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Bobby Abreu ejected by HP umpire Angel Campos.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta flies out to left fielder Vernon Wells.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Alex Avila called out on .

LAA - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Vernon Wells out on foul tip.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Howard Kendrick singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

On-field Delay.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Erick Aybar doubles (16) on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Howard Kendrick scores.
LAA 1 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:2
Mark Trumbo grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez. Erick Aybar to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Peter Bourjos flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Ryan Raburn grounds out softly, third baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Don Kelly out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Austin Jackson triples (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

Injury Delay.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds out, pitcher Dan Haren to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

LAA - Bot 3rd
Defensive Substitution: Andy Dirks replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 2nd, playing left field.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Jeff Mathis called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2
Maicer Izturis grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Torii Hunter flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds out sharply, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.

LAA - Bot 4th
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Russell Branyan replaces Bobby Abreu.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Russell Branyan out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Vernon Wells grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Howard Kendrick out swinging.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
Russell Branyan remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Detroit Tigers left fielder Brennan Boesch left the game due to an injured knee.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out to first baseman Mark Trumbo. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Ryan Raburn bunt grounds out, pitcher Dan Haren to first baseman Mark Trumbo. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Don Kelly pops out softly to shortstop Erick Aybar.

LAA - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Erick Aybar singles on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Mark Trumbo singles on a ground ball to third baseman Don Kelly. Mark Trumbo to 2nd. Erick Aybar advances to 3rd, on throwing error by third baseman Don Kelly.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Peter Bourjos walks.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Jeff Mathis out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Maicer Izturis pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta on the infield fly rule.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Torii Hunter lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Maicer Izturis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks pops out to second baseman Howard Kendrick.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Magglio Ordonez out swinging.

LAA - Bot 6th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Russell Branyan called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:1
Vernon Wells doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Howard Kendrick lines into double play, first baseman Victor Martinez to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Vernon Wells doubled off 2nd.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
On-field Delay.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland ejected by 1B umpire Joe West.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

LAA - Bot 7th
B:0 S:2 O:1
Erick Aybar grounds out softly, first baseman Victor Martinez to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Mark Trumbo out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Peter Bourjos singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Jeff Mathis grounds into a force out, third baseman Don Kelly to second baseman Ryan Raburn. Peter Bourjos out at 2nd.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Ryan Raburn out swinging, catcher Jeff Mathis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar.

LAA - Bot 8th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Maicer Izturis singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Torii Hunter grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Victor Martinez. Maicer Izturis out at 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Russell Branyan walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Justin Verlander.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander ejected by 1B umpire Joe West.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Vernon Wells pops out to third baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.

LAA 1 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
B:0 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Andy Dirks out swinging, catcher Jeff Mathis to first baseman Mark Trumbo.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Peter Bourjos.