GDT33: 5/10/13 - DET (19-13) VS CLE (18-14) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (4-0, 3.43 ERA)

Scherzer has a chance at a 5-0 record for the second time in three years. Standing in his way is a Cleveland offense that roughed him up twice in three meetings last season. Scherzer's strikeout ratio ranks second in the AL.



Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (2-1, 3.06 ERA)

Kluber was hung with a hard-luck loss last time out for the Tribe. At home against the Twins on Sunday, the right-hander allowed three runs on five hits and ended with five strikeouts and four walks.







Raburn returns to Detroit with red-hot Indians
Scherzer, Kluber set to take the hill as AL Central rivals face off

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 5/9/2013 7:35 PM ET

On Thursday morning, Indians traveling secretary Mike Seghi handed Ryan Raburn his per diem for the team's upcoming road trip. The journey begins Friday with a three-game set in Detroit, Raburn's former home.

One player asked Raburn if he would even be eating with his current teammates. Raburn joked that he planned to ditch them to have dinner with Tigers ace Justin Verlander.

The Tigers selected Raburn in the fifth round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He debuted with the club in 2004, and played for them until they released him last November following a season in which he batted just .171.

"I'm pretty excited," Raburn said about facing his former club. "I'll be anxious to see some of those guys I haven't seen in a while. It's going to be fun. I'm a little nervous, but excited to be on the other side for once."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland shares in the excitement, he says.

"I'll be happy as hell to see him," Leyland said. "I like him a lot. He's a good kid, a talented kid. He had nagging injuries from time to time. He just got in a funk and didn't get out of it last year."

Raburn hasn't taken long to get acclimated to his new team. In 21 games with Cleveland, the 32-year-old is batting .329 with four homers and 11 RBIs. He said he isn't sure what reaction to expect from fans at Comerica Park this weekend, after having been booed there when his performance declined last season.

After their Thursday victory, the Indians have won 10 of their last 11 games to close within one game of first-place Detroit in the American League Central after the Tigers were swept in their two-game series against the Nationals.

"There's no extra motivation. I'm motivated every day to try to win," Raburn said. "I've developed some great relationships over there, but that doesn't mean I don't want to beat them when we go play them. It'll be fun, and hopefully we win a few ballgames."

Friday's series opener will pit Cleveland's Corey Kluber against Detroit's Max Scherzer.

Indians: Kluber eyeing third win
Kluber was tagged with the Tribe's only loss in the last 11 games, though it wasn't for a lack of effort. He held Minnesota to three runs in 5 2/3 innings on Sunday, but Cleveland's bats went silent as the Indians lost, 4-2. In four outings this season, Kluber has compiled a 2-1 record and 3.06 ERA.

• The Indians activated Michael Bourn following Thursday's game and optioned left-hander Scott Barnes to Triple-A Columbus to clear a spot on the roster.

Tigers: Scherzer seeking another strong start
Scherzer has yet to lose a game this season, and lately, the right-hander has made it look easy. Scherzer limited the Astros to one run on three hits over eight innings on Saturday during Detroit's 17-2 rout.

"He was very good, obviously," Leyland said. "But I've seen him as good or better than that. Sometimes it's a little different when you have that much of a lead to work with. You're not really maxing out like you do when you get in jams in a close game. He pitched very well and gave us some much-needed innings."

In 11 career starts against the Indians, Scherzer has posted a 5-4 record and 5.26 ERA.

Worth noting
• The Indians claimed 10 of their 18 meetings with the Tigers last season, despite being outscored, 83-68.

• After winning four straight, the Tigers now have dropped two games in a row. Overall, though, Detroit has won nine of its last 12.

• Cleveland's 102-83 mark in one-run games since 2009 ranks fourth best in the Majors.

Zack Meisel is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @zackmeisel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, 15-day DL retroactive to April 20, 2013).

• LHP Phil Coke (left groin strain, 15-day DL retroactive to April 26, 2013).






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• SAT, May 11:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (4-2, 1.55 ERA)) VS
INDIANS: (RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2, 6.37 ERA))
7:08 p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN / FM 97.1)


• SUN, May 12:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (1-2, 7.52 ERA)) VS
INDIANS: (RHP Zach McAllister (3-3, 2.63 ERA))
1:08 p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• MON, May 13:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-3, 1.97 ERA)) VS
ASTROS: (?HP ? (0-0, -.-- ERA))
7:08 p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF (1-for-3, double, 2 K’s vs. Kluber)
Torii Hunter, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B (3-for-6, walk, 2 K’s vs. Kluber)
Prince Fielder, 1B (1-for-4 vs. Kluber)
Victor Martinez, DH (0-for-1 vs. Kluber)
Andy Dirks, LF (1-for-8, 3 K’s vs. Kluber)
Jhonny Peralta, SS (2-for-4, walk vs. Kluber)
Alex Avila, C (0-for-4, walk, K vs. Kluber)
Omar Infante, 2B (0-for-4 vs. Kluber)

P: Max Scherzer


INDIANS

Michael Bourn, CF (1-for-7, walk, 3 K’s off Scherzer)
Jason Kipnis, 2B (2-for-10, 2 walks, 3 K’s off Scherzer)
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS (7-for-26, 2 doubles, HR, 2 walks, 10 K’s off Scherzer)
Nick Swisher, DH (3-for-13, double, 4 walks, 7 K’s off Scherzer)
Carlos Santana, C (2-for-20, 4 walks, 3 K’s off Scherzer)
Mark Reynolds, 1B (0-for-5, walk, 3 K’s off Scherzer)
Michael Brantley, LF (7-for-23, 4 doubles, triple, HR, walk, K off Scherzer)
Drew Stubbs, RF
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B (2-for-8, K off Scherzer)

P: Corey Kluber

CLE - Top 1st
B:1 S:3 O:1
Michael Bourn called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jason Kipnis doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Nick Swisher doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Jason Kipnis scores.
CLE 1 - 0

B:3 S:2 O:3
Carlos Santana grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 1st
B:4 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter lines out to second baseman Jason Kipnis.

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

B:1 S:2 O:3
Prince Fielder pops out to catcher Carlos Santana in foul territory.

CLE 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

CLE - Top 2nd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Mark Reynolds strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Michael Brantley grounds out, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Drew Stubbs called out on strikes.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:4 S:0 O:0
Victor Martinez walks.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks lines out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta doubles (7) on a soft line drive to left fielder Michael Brantley. Victor Martinez to 3rd.

B:3 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Drew Stubbs. Victor Martinez scores. Jhonny Peralta scores.
2 - 1

B:2 S:2 O:1
Omar Infante doubles (4) on a pop up to right fielder Drew Stubbs, deflected by second baseman Jason Kipnis. Alex Avila to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson lines out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to right fielder Drew Stubbs. Alex Avila scores. Torii Hunter out at 2nd, right fielder Drew Stubbs to first baseman Mark Reynolds.

3 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

CLE - Top 3rd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Lonnie Chisenhall flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Michael Bourn lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Jason Kipnis grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Drew Stubbs.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Prince Fielder homers (9) on a fly ball to right center field.
4 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:2
Victor Martinez pops out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Drew Stubbs.

With Jhonny Peralta batting, Andy Dirks steals (4) 2nd base.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

4 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

CLE - Top 4th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Nick Swisher triples (1) on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Carlos Santana grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Nick Swisher scores.
4 - 2

B:1 S:3 O:3
Mark Reynolds strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 4th
B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila called out on strikes.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Omar Infante doubles (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to second baseman Jason Kipnis. Omar Infante to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Torii Hunter strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera homers (7) on a fly ball to left center field. Omar Infante scores. Austin Jackson scores.
7 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:3
Prince Fielder pops out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

7 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

CLE - Top 5th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Michael Brantley grounds out sharply, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Drew Stubbs flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Lonnie Chisenhall lines out to second baseman Omar Infante.


DET - Bot 5th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez lines out to right fielder Drew Stubbs.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, second baseman Jason Kipnis to first baseman Mark Reynolds.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta hits a ground-rule double (8) on a fly ball to left-center field.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder Michael Bourn. Jhonny Peralta scores.
8 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Bryan Shaw replaces Corey Kluber.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Omar Infante singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Bourn. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson strikes out on a foul tip.

8 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

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

B:0 S:1 O:2
Jason Kipnis flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out, pitcher Bryan Shaw to first baseman Mark Reynolds.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Drew Stubbs.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Nick Hagadone replaces Bryan Shaw.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.

Dropped foul pop error by catcher Carlos Santana.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Victor Martinez called out on strikes.

8 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

CLE - Top 7th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Nick Swisher singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:1 O:0
Carlos Santana doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter. Nick Swisher to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Mark Reynolds grounds out, second baseman Omar Infante to first baseman Prince Fielder. Nick Swisher scores. Carlos Santana to 3rd.
8 - 3

B:2 S:0 O:2
Michael Brantley out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Andy Dirks. Carlos Santana scores.
8 - 4

B:2 S:2 O:3
Drew Stubbs flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.


DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: Rich Hill replaces Nick Hagadone.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
9 - 4

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

B:3 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Omar Infante flies out to center fielder Michael Bourn.

9 - 4 AFTER 7 INNINGS

CLE - Top 8th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Lonnie Chisenhall strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Michael Bourn grounds out softly, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Jason Kipnis strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Matt Albers replaces Rich Hill.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Torii Hunter grounds out softly, catcher Carlos Santana to first baseman Mark Reynolds. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

With Miguel Cabrera batting, wild pitch by Matt Albers, Austin Jackson to 3rd.

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

B:4 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Drew Stubbs. Austin Jackson scores. Prince Fielder to 2nd.
10 - 4

B:1 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.

10 - 4 AFTER 8 INNINGS

CLE - Top 9th
Pitching Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a pop up to right fielder Torii Hunter, deflected by second baseman Omar Infante. Asdrubal Cabrera out at 2nd, second baseman Omar Infante to right fielder Torii Hunter to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to pitcher Joaquin Benoit.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Nick Swisher called out on strikes.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Carlos Santana lines out to left fielder Andy Dirks.


TIGERS WIN 10-4

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Scherzer
L: Kluber


Game Info

WP: Albers.
Pitches-strikes: Kluber 91-55, Shaw 13-10, Hagadone 14-9, Hill, R 21-12, Albers 18-11, Scherzer 103-69, Benoit 12-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Kluber 1-1, Shaw 1-0, Hagadone 0-0, Hill, R 0-1, Albers 2-1, Scherzer 7-8, Benoit 0-0.
Batters faced: Kluber 26, Shaw 4, Hagadone 2, Hill, R 4, Albers 6, Scherzer 29, Benoit 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Shaw 1-0, Hagadone 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Todd Tichenor. 1B: Dale Scott. 2B: Bill Miller. 3B: CB Bucknor.
Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 12 mph, Out to RF.
T: 2:48.
Att: 37,547.