GDT: 8/19/11 - DET (65-58) VS CLE (62-58) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tomlin, Scherzer face off in Detroit

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 8/18/2011 12:15 AM ET

There's plenty to be decided in the race for the American League Central crown, but this weekend's series between the Indians and Tigers could serve as a piece to a puzzling question: Which team will be the last standing in the division?

The White Sox will have something to say about the race as well, but for much of the season, it's been a battle between Cleveland and Detroit. Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97) and Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37) will settle the first score on Friday at Comerica Park.

"These games are important both ways," Tribe skipper Manny Acta said. "You try not only to reach the Tigers, but you're also trying to separate yourself from the people trying to catch you. These games have double-meaning."

Scherzer has faced the Tribe twice this season. On April 29, he allowed five runs and walked five in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-5 loss at Progressive Field. He fared better before his home fans, limiting the Indians to two runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-2 win in Detroit on June 16.

Scherzer is coming off an outing in which he struck out a season-high 10 batters during a 6-5 win against Baltimore. He allowed five runs (four earned) in seven innings and didn't walk a batter.

Tomlin, on the other hand, has yet to face the Tigers this season. He took the loss after allowing five runs and seven hits in Detroit on Aug. 21, 2010, just his fifth career Major League start.

He's been stellar in his last two outings, however, yielding just three runs and eight hits in 13 1/3 innings, good for a 2.03 ERA against Texas and Minnesota.

Indians: Jimenez ready for second start with Tribe
• Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to start Sunday's game against Detroit. In his second start with the Indians after being acquired before the non-waiver Trade Deadline from the Rockies, Jimenez allowed just three unearned runs in eight strong innings of a 10-3 win against the Tigers on Aug. 10. In his last start, however, Tuesday against the White Sox, Jimenez left after allowing five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Tigers: Alburquerque improving after concussion
• The Tigers are hopeful reliever Al Alburquerque can return from the seven-day concussion list next week after he was struck with a line drive during batting practice last Friday. The right-hander played catch Tuesday without any trouble.

Worth noting
• Starting this weekend, the Indians and Tigers still play each other nine times, including six meetings in Detroit. The clubs meet the last three days of the regular season at Comerica Park.

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37 ERA)

Scherzer struggled in his last outing, giving up four earned runs in seven innings, but picked up a win in Baltimore. After five straight starts allowing two earned runs or fewer, he has allowed four in each of his last two.


Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97 ERA)

Tomlin shut down the Twins' offense in his last outing, holding Minnesota to one run in 6 1/3 innings. He picked up his team-high 12th win, his first since July 15.


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:

• INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist, 15-day disabled list on August 13),
• RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion, 7-day disabled list on August 12).
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



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• Saturday, August 20: (Fiesta Tigres)
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (4-13, 3.59 ERA)) VS
Indians (LHP David Huff (1-1, 0.51 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, August 21:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.98 ERA)) VS
Indians (RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-9, 4.48 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Monday, August 22:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (18-5, 2.31 ERA)) AT
Rays (RHP Jeff Niemann (8-4, 3.29 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUP:

TIGERS
1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Ryan Raburn, 2B

CLE - Top 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Michael Brantley flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Shin-Soo Choo walks.

With Asdrubal Cabrera batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, Shin-Soo Choo to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Travis Hafner called out on .

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds out to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young pops out to second baseman Luis Valbuena.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

CLE - Top 2nd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Carlos Santana flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Kosuke Fukudome grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Max Scherzer.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Matt LaPorta grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera lines out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez lines out to second baseman Luis Valbuena.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila lines out to second baseman Luis Valbuena.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

CLE - Top 3rd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Lonnie Chisenhall flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Luis Valbuena grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Michael Brantley doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Shin-Soo Choo grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:0 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Wilson Betemit flies into double play, left fielder Michael Brantley to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Jhonny Peralta doubled off 1st.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

CLE - Top 4th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Travis Hafner out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Carlos Santana pops out to third baseman Wilson Betemit.

DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

0 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

CLE - Top 5th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Kosuke Fukudome grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Matt LaPorta singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Lonnie Chisenhall flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Luis Valbuena out swinging.

DET - Bot 5th
B:3 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley in foul territory.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

0 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

CLE - Top 6th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Michael Brantley flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Shin-Soo Choo singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Asdrubal Cabrera out swinging. Shin-Soo Choo steals (12) 2nd base.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Travis Hafner grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Wilson Betemit out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field. Ryan Raburn scores.
2 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch pops out to second baseman Luis Valbuena.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Delmon Young flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.

2 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

CLE - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces second baseman Ryan Raburn, batting 9th, playing second base.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Carlos Santana singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Kosuke Fukudome out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Matt LaPorta out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Lonnie Chisenhall singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Carlos Santana to 3rd.

With Luis Valbuena batting, wild pitch by Max Scherzer, Carlos Santana scores. Lonnie Chisenhall to 2nd.
2 - 1

B:2 S:2 O:3
Luis Valbuena grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 7th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alex Avila homers (14) on a fly ball to right field.
3 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta homers (18) on a fly ball to left field.
4 - 1
Pitcher Change: Rafael Perez replaces Josh Tomlin.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Wilson Betemit grounds out, second baseman Luis Valbuena to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

4 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

CLE - Top 8th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces third baseman Wilson Betemit, batting 8th, playing third base.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Michael Brantley flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Shin-Soo Choo out swinging.

B:3 S:1 O:3
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Frank Herrmann replaces Rafael Perez.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Austin Jackson pops out to first baseman Matt LaPorta in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young singles on a fly ball to center fielder Kosuke Fukudome. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

4 - 1 AFTER 8 INNINGS

CLE - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Travis Hafner flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Carlos Santana grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Kosuke Fukudome pops out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.