GDT: 7/7/11 - DET (46-42) AT KC (36-51) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Tigers, Royals kick off final series before break
Scherzer set to square off against Duffy in opener

By Matt Fortuna / MLB.com | 7/6/2011 8:35 PM ET

Brad Penny gave the Tigers just enough to escape Anaheim with one win Wednesday. Now it is up to the unsteady right arm of Max Scherzer to build on that momentum.

With a 9-2 start, Scherzer looked like one of the American League's top pitchers two weeks ago. But his last three outings have lasted a total of just 15 innings, with Scherzer allowing 14 earned runs on 21 hits while going 0-2.

Scherzer will look to snap out of that funk Thursday at Kauffman Stadium against the AL Central division-rival Royals, and he will do it under a new pitching coach, Jeff Jones, who replaced Rick Knapp on Sunday after Knapp was let go by the Tigers.

Scherzer's perplexing decline likely contributed to Knapp's dismissal, and with the Tigers within striking distance of the first-place Indians as the All-Star break nears, Thursday's start carries all the more meaning for the 26-year-old right-hander.

"We can't let up," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "[Kansas City] just went into Chicago and won again today. They're playing good right now. When teams are playing good, they're real dangerous. Hopefully we'll play good these next four days and enjoy the break. The guys really deserve [a] break. We've talked about it long enough, playing 37 [games] out of 38 [days]. Guys are tired, and guys are banged up, but they're pushing pretty good. I'm awful proud of them."

The Royals took two of three at divisional rival Chicago, and they have won three of their last four overall after beginning a nine-game road trip 0-5.

"It didn't start exactly the way we wanted it to," outfielder Jeff Francoeur said of the 3-6 trip. "But we've got an important four games going home. We're playing a tough Tigers team and we need to go home and take three out of four, quite frankly."

That could be enough to help the Royals slowly climb out of the AL Central basement.

Kansas City enters the series with the worst record in the AL, three games behind the Twins for fourth place in the division.

Rookie southpaw Danny Duffy will take the hill for the Royals, and his recent starts have yielded mixed results.

Two of Duffy's last four outings have been quality starts, but he was roughed up Friday in Colorado, giving up five runs in five innings, including a pair of home runs.

"I think things are starting to go our way now," said Eric Hosmer, who had two homers in the White Sox series. "We've got a huge series against Detroit coming up, and if we can win some games there it'll be a lot of momentum for us going into the break, and [we can] come out for the second half ready to go."

The Tigers, meanwhile, have lost six of their last nine.

On Wednesday, Penny recovered from a three-run first inning to record his sixth win of the season. Miguel Cabrera's 18th home run, a two-run shot in the seventh, provided the difference in snapping the Angels' four-game win streak.

Leyland is hoping the Tigers build off that victory before entering the All-Star break, as they have at least four players who will be enjoying next week's festivities at Phoenix's Chase Field.

"It's always a danger, particularly in our case with so many guys -- four or five guys -- it's only human nature," Leyland said. "They're worrying about families for the All-Star Game, and sometimes you can lose sight of what you still have to do yet if you're not careful. And that's why I'm proud of our guys."

Tigers: Leyland hopes tensions calm
One day after being one of four people ejected in the a loss to the Angels, Leyland said there has been too much tension this season.

"Umpires miss a call. The manager makes mistakes. Players make mistakes. That's just part of the game," Leyland said. "But I just think that for whatever reason, it seems to me this year we've been on a campaign to try to ease the tension, and it seems like the tension's more -- throughout baseball. I'm not just talking about the Tigers."

Royals: Snap Central skid
The Royals' last two wins in Chicago were their first against an AL Central team since May 1, when they beat the Twins at home.

Kansas City was on a nine-game slide against divisional opponents. With Wednesday's win, the Royals improved to 7-5 in rubber matches this season, including 4-3 on the road. They went 9-9 last season in rubber matches.

Worth noting
• Detroit's Victor Martinez and Kansas City's Alex Gordon are among five AL players involved in the All-Star Final Vote. Fans can vote for until 4 p.m. ET Thursday to give one of these players a spot at the All-Star Game next Tuesday in Phoenix.


Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.90 ERA)

Two weeks ago, Scherzer was rolling among the league's wins leaders at 9-2. He has allowed 14 earned runs on 21 hits over 15 innings in his last three starts, and he looked mechanically lost for two innings in his last start.


Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09 ERA)

In his ninth start, Duffy felt he pitched quite well despite allowing five runs in five innings. Included in the Rockies' nine hits last Friday were two homers good for four runs. Duffy walked just one against six strikeouts.


Game Information

RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers knocked off the Angels 5-4 yesterday afternoon. Brad Penny (6-6) earned the win for Detroit, while Jose Valverde worked a perfect ninth inning for his 21st save. Miguel Cabrera belted a two-run home run for the Tigers, while Victor Martinez added a two-run single. The Tigers continue a seven-game road trip tonight with the first game of a four-game series against the Royals. Following Sunday afternoon’s game, the club will enjoy a four-day all-star break before beginning a five-game homestand with Chicago and Oakland.

FOUR TIGERS NAMED TO ALL-STAR SQUAD: Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Valverde and Justin Verlander were all selected to the American League’s all-star squad on Sunday. Avila was voted the starting catcher for the American League, while Cabrera, Valverde and Verlander were all selected as reserves. It is the sixth all-star selection for Cabrera, while it is fourth selection for Verlander, third selection for Valverde and the first selection for Avila.

VOTE VICTOR: Victor Martinez is one of five candidates in the American League for the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote. Martinez joins Kansas City’s Alex Gordon, Baltimore’s Adam Jones, Chicago’s Paul Konerko and Tampa Bay’s Ben Zobrist on the ballot. Voting is on mlb.com and it extends through 4:00 p.m. Eastern this afternoon.

AVILA VOTED AS AMERICAN LEAGUE’S STARTER BEHIND THE PLATE: Alex Avila was voted through the fan balloting as the American League’s starting catcher for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be held in Phoenix. Avila will be the first Tigers catcher to start for the American League in the All-Star Game since Ivan Rodriguez did so in 2007. Avila will become the fifth catcher in franchise history to start in the All-Star Game, joining Birdie Tebbetts, Bill Freehan, Lance Parrish and Rodriguez.

CENTRAL FOCUS: Tonight at Kansas City marks the first game in a stretch in which the Tigers play 14 of the club’s next 16 games against opponents in the American League Central Division. Of Detroit’s final 74 games of the season, 50 are versus teams in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are 15-7 against clubs from the American League Central Division this season, a .682 winning percentage. Detroit is tops among all American League clubs with the .682 winning percentage against the division.

VICTOR AT THE BAT: Victor Martinez is hitting .355 (50x141) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 23 RBI over his last 38 games dating back to May 27. He is fourth among all American League players with a .355 batting average during that stretch.

BOESCH IS BASHING: Brennan Boesch enters tonight’s game against the Royals hitting .392 (47x120) with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 15 RBI over his last 31 games dating back to June 3. He is tops in the American League with a .392 batting average during that stretch, while he is second with 47 hits, fourth with a .675 slugging percentage and tied for eighth with eight home runs.

GUILLEN ON INJURY REHAB WITH TOLEDO: Carlos Guillen’s injury rehabilitation assignment was transferred from Single A Lakeland to Triple A Toledo on Friday. He is hitting .176 (3x17) with a double, home run and four RBI in five games with Toledo. Guillen joined Lakeland to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment on June 27. He hit .200 (3x15) with two doubles and two RBI in three games with Lakeland.

NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his sixth season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 470-431 record (.522).
- Leyland registered the 1,500th win of his major league career on April 15 at Oakland, becoming just the 19th manager in major league history to accomplish the feat. He is second among all active major league managers with 1,539 wins.
- Tonight’s game marks the 3,102nd game Leyland has managed during his career, 55 games shy of tying Ralph Houk for 15th place all-time in major league history.
- With 470 wins as Detroit’s manager, he enters tonight’s game 30 wins shy of becoming the fifth manager in Tigers history to register 500 victories with the club.

STARS PLACED ON JERSEYS AND HATS OF ALL-STAR SELECTIONS: Stars have been affixed on the jerseys and hats of Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Valverde and Justin Verlander to signify their selection to the American League’s all-star squad. All four players will wear the stars on their jerseys and hats through Sunday’s game at Kansas City.

CASTELLANOS, SMYLY EARN MINOR LEAGUE HONORS: Single A West Michigan third baseman Nick Castellanos and Single A Lakeland lefthanded pitcher Drew Smyly have been selected the Tigers Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for June. Castellanos hit .375 (36x96) with eight doubles, two home runs and 20 RBI in 24 games during the month. Smyly compiled a 4-0 record, 1.93 ERA (32.2IP/7ER) and 31 strikeouts in five starts during June.

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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• 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)

• Saturday, July 9:
Tigers (LHP Charlie Furbush (1-2, 3.08 ERA)) AT
Royals (RHP Luke Hochevar (5-8, 5.17 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, July 10:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.26 ERA)) AT
Royals (LHP Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69) ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

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

ROYALS
1. Getz, 2B
2. Cabrera, Melky, CF
3. Gordon, LF
4. Butler, DH
5. Hosmer, 1B
6. Francoeur, RF
7. Moustakas, 3B
8. Pena, C
9. Escobar, SS

DET - Top 1st
B:3 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2
Casper Wells grounds out, second baseman Chris Getz to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 1st
B:1 S:2 O:0
Chris Getz singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Melky Cabrera singles on a soft ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Chris Getz to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Casper Wells.

With Billy Butler batting, Chris Getz caught stealing 3rd base, pitcher Max Scherzer to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Billy Butler grounds into a force out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ryan Raburn. Melky Cabrera out at 2nd.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:4 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez pops out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

With Jhonny Peralta batting, wild pitch by Danny Duffy, Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn homers (8) on a fly ball to left field. Miguel Cabrera scores.
2 - 0

B:2 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

KC - Bot 2nd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Eric Hosmer grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jeff Francoeur grounds out softly, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Mike Moustakas pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Brandon Inge called out on .

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ramon Santiago replaces Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago pops out to first baseman Eric Hosmer in foul territory.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Casper Wells strikes out swinging.

KC - Bot 3rd
Ramon Santiago remains in the game as the second baseman.

Defensive switch from left field to center field for Casper Wells.

Defensive switch from second base to left field for Ryan Raburn.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson left the game due to an injured wrist.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Brayan Pena singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Alcides Escobar grounds into double play, second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brayan Pena out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Chris Getz grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:3 S:1 O:0
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds into double play, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.

KC - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Melky Cabrera grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Max Scherzer.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Alex Gordon out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Billy Butler flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

2 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

KC - Bot 5th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Eric Hosmer doubles (10) on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Jeff Francoeur flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez in foul territory. Eric Hosmer to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Mike Moustakas grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Eric Hosmer scores.
2 - 1

B:2 S:2 O:3
Brayan Pena flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

2 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Brandon Inge out on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Casper Wells doubles (9) on a fly ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Magglio Ordonez reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to catcher Brayan Pena. Ramon Santiago out at home. Casper Wells to 3rd on the throw.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds into a force out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Chris Getz. Magglio Ordonez out at 2nd.

KC - Bot 6th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Alcides Escobar pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Chris Getz flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Melky Cabrera flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

2 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Louis Coleman replaces Danny Duffy.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC - Bot 7th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 3rd, playing right field.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Alex Gordon singles on a ground ball to right fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Billy Butler flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Eric Hosmer out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Jeff Francoeur singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Brandon Inge. Alex Gordon to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Mike Moustakas flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

2 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Brandon Inge pops out to third baseman Mike Moustakas in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago lines out softly to pitcher Louis Coleman.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Casper Wells flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Phil Coke.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Brayan Pena singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Alcides Escobar out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Joaquin Benoit to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Brayan Pena to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Chris Getz flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Melky Cabrera out swinging.

2 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Aaron Crow replaces Louis Coleman.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Don Kelly homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
3 - 1

B:2 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Victor Martinez out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta walks.

With Ryan Raburn batting, throwing error by Aaron Crow on the pickoff attempt, Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn called out on .

KC - Bot 9th
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Alex Gordon grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Billy Butler out swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Eric Hosmer walks.

With Jeff Francoeur batting, Eric Hosmer advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jeff Francoeur singles on a soft ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Eric Hosmer to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Mike Moustakas batting, Jeff Francoeur advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Mike Moustakas flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

Nice win!

Ty McCobb wrote:

Nice win!

YEA MAN! KEEP ON A ROLLING TIGERS!