GDT: 7/10/11 - DET (48-43) AT KC (37-53) - 2:10 p.m. ET

Verlander has been aces against rival Royals

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/10/2011 12:00 AM ET

Get your barbecue ready, Kansas City. Justin Verlander is coming to town.

Verlander, owner of a 0.84 ERA and .179 average against in his last eight starts, enters Sunday's first-half finale as one of baseball's hottest pitchers. As can be expected with a stretch such as that, Verlander has been locked in, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

"I just watched his mannerisms and I read his quotes, and you could tell that he was locked in pretty good," Leyland said of Verlander's season. "I think he made a point about getting off slow before and not wanting to do that again, and changing a couple of things; getting himself more mentally ready to start the season. You could just tell."

Kansas City knows full well the kind of stuff Verlander has. On May 13, the right-hander held the Royals to only two hits in eight innings and is 11-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 career starts against them.

"You've got to be ready to hit when you get in there. He's got great stuff," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You've got to get him early before he gets the breaking ball on you and you've got to hope he's not commanding that breaking ball on that given day, and narrow him down to one pitch."

During Verlander's eight-game stretch he has averaged more than one strikeout per inning compared to only 10 walks in 64 1/3 innings.

"His command has been impeccable with that great stuff," Yost said. "You just hope your starting pitcher is as good as he is, get his pitch count up, get him out and do some damage on the 'pen. That's all you can hope for."

Attempting to do that for the Royals is left-hander Jeff Francis, who lost to the Tigers on May 14 after allowing three runs in eight innings.

Tigers: Valverde nearing own mark
Closer Jose Valverde has converted 23 straight saves, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Next on the list? Valverde, of course. The closer recorded 24 straight saves from April 9-August 21, 2010.

• With it being a hot day in Kansas City on Saturday, Leyland sat regulars Magglio Ordonez, Jhonny Peralta and Brandon Inge. They likely will return to the lineup on Sunday.

Royals: Moustakas to return
Mike Moustakas didn't play on Saturday, as Yost decided to give his rookie third baseman an off-day. Moustakas, mired in a 0-for-21 skid, will be back in the lineup on Sunday.

"He's struggling a little bit. It's a good day to catch your breath," Yost said. "He'll be back in there [Sunday]."

• Royals closer Joakim Soria has recorded eight straight saves.

Worth noting
• Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is hitting .336 with 13 doubles, 16 homers and 51 RBIs in 63 career games against the Royals.

• Kansas City has dropped 11 of its last 14 games against division opponents.



Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (11-4, 2.26 ERA)

After a 1-0 duel with Dan Haren ended Verlander's seven-start winning streak with his first loss since April 27, he'll try to close his first half on a positive note by beating the Royals. He's 11-2 lifetime against Kansas City.


Royals: LHP Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69 ERA)

Francis has given the Royals consistently steady performances, generally keeping the team in the game into the late innings. That's what he did on Monday at Chicago, holding the Sox to two runs in six innings although the Royals lost in the ninth.


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).


To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official Press Pass game notes

On television

•
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule

On radio

• ,
• XM Channel Schedule



• Sunday, July 10:
Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Chase Field featuring: XM All-Star Futures Game, 6 p.m. ET, MLB.TV, ESPN2 and
Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, approximately 9:30 ET (The game will be televised in HD by ESPN the next day, immediately
following the State Farm Home Run Derby at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET
on July 11.)

• Monday July 11:
Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Chase Field featuring:
State Farm Home Run Derby, 8 ET, ESPN

• Tuesday July 12:
82nd MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field, 8 ET, FOX

• Wednesday July 13:
OFF DAY

• Thursday July 14:
OFF DAY

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
1. C. Wells, CF
2. B. Boesch, LF
3. M. Ordonez, RF
4. M. Cabrera, DH
5. V. Martinez, 1B
6. J. Peralta, SS
7. R. Raburn, 2B
8. A. Avila, C
9. B. Inge, 3B

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

DET - Top 1st
B:1 S:2 O:1
Casper Wells grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch called out on .

B:2 S:0 O:3
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 1st
B:0 S:0 O:1
Chris Getz flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Melky Cabrera called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3
Alex Gordon grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Victor Martinez.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:0 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:0
Billy Butler singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Eric Hosmer out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Jeff Francoeur out swinging.
0 0
B:0 S:0 O:2
Mike Moustakas singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Billy Butler to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Brayan Pena out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Ryan Raburn called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila called out on .

B:2 S:1 O:3
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC - Bot 3rd
Injury Delay.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Alcides Escobar flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Chris Getz grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Victor Martinez.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Melky Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Casper Wells doubles (10) on a fly ball to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Brennan Boesch singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur, deflected by second baseman Chris Getz. Casper Wells scores.
1 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:1
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

KC - Bot 4th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Alex Gordon called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2
Billy Butler flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Eric Hosmer flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

1 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Ryan Raburn called out on .

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

KC - Bot 5th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Jeff Francoeur singles on a line drive to center fielder Casper Wells.

With Mike Moustakas batting, wild pitch by Justin Verlander, Jeff Francoeur to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Mike Moustakas grounds out, first baseman Victor Martinez to pitcher Justin Verlander. Jeff Francoeur to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Brayan Pena out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Alcides Escobar grounds out softly, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Victor Martinez.

1 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Casper Wells walks.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

With Magglio Ordonez batting, Casper Wells steals (1) 2nd base.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Casper Wells scores.
2 - 0

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

KC - Bot 6th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Chris Getz out on foul tip.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Alex Gordon called out on .

With Billy Butler batting, wild pitch by Justin Verlander, Melky Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Billy Butler called out on .

2 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera, deflected by shortstop Alcides Escobar.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Louis Coleman replaces Jeff Francis.

With Jhonny Peralta batting, wild pitch by Louis Coleman, Victor Martinez to 2nd.

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

B:1 S:3 O:2
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Louis Coleman intentionally walks Alex Avila.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Brandon Inge out swinging.

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

Defensive Substitution: Danny Worth replaces second baseman Ryan Raburn, batting 7th, playing second base.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Eric Hosmer flies out to center fielder Casper Wells.

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

B:2 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas flies out to right fielder Don Kelly.

2 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Aaron Crow replaces Louis Coleman.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Casper Wells out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch lines out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly grounds out, first baseman Eric Hosmer to pitcher Aaron Crow.

KC - Bot 8th
Defensive switch from center field to right field for Casper Wells.

Defensive Substitution: Austin Jackson replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 2nd, playing center field.

Defensive switch from right field to left field for Don Kelly.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Brayan Pena flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Alcides Escobar singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Chris Getz singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alcides Escobar to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Melky Cabrera flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

With Alex Gordon batting, Chris Getz steals (17) 2nd base.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Alex Gordon reaches on fielding error by third baseman Brandon Inge. Alcides Escobar scores. Chris Getz to 3rd.
2 - 1

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Justin Verlander.

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

2 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Joakim Soria replaces Aaron Crow.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

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

B:1 S:2 O:3
Danny Worth flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

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

B:1 S:0 O:0
Eric Hosmer doubles (11) on a fly ball to left fielder Don Kelly.

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

With Mike Moustakas batting, Eric Hosmer caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Alex Avila to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Victor Martinez.