GDT160: 9/27/13 - DET (93-66) AT MIA (59-100) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.38 ERA)

If the sinkerballer is going to make a case for a spot in the postseason rotation, this is his last chance. His 1.66 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 21 2/3 innings in his last three starts have given him a different look.



Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (4-10, 4.45 ERA)

Based on his last two starts, Koehler is making a case for an Opening Day roster spot next year. He comes off a win at Washington, giving up two runs in six innings. He had a scoreless-inning streak of 15 snapped.





AL Central champion Tigers to wrap up in Miami
Detroit still looking to secure home-field advantage in postseason

By Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 9/26/2013 12:20 AM ET

The Tigers clinched their third consecutive American League Central title after beating the Twins 1-0 on Wednesday, but they are one game behind the A's to earn home-field advantage in the AL Divisional Series. In the last series of the year, Detroit will face the Marlins for the first time since 2004 on Friday.

Rick Porcello will take the mound for the Tigers in his final tuneup before the playoffs. In his last three starts, he's 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.

"My breaking ball, I think, was the biggest key to the success," Porcello said after a recent start. "[Catcher Alex Avila] did a really good job of calling it in the right situations to throw it. We were in sync the whole night, and I think that rhythm we got going was big."

Tom Koehler will toe the rubber for the Marlins in his final start of the season. In his last outing, he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in six innings. As he fights to get into Miami's 2014 plans as either a starter or reliever, he enjoys facing playoff teams.

"We talked about that earlier when we got here, that we were going to play teams down the stretch that are trying to get in the playoffs or are in the playoffs," Koehler said. "This is a good experience for us. Obviously, we're not in it. But to get to play against teams who are playing for something, that means something. It's good, because we're going against guys who are really locked in."

Mike Redmond will also finish out his first season as a manager against the man who was his first MLB manager, Jim Leyland. Redmond made his debut with the Marlins in 1998, when they lost 108 games.

"Jim Leyland had a huge impact in my playing career," Redmond said. "I was a guy who wasn't expected to get to the big leagues. He showed a lot of faith in me and played me, when people said, 'You don't have to play this guy. You can just sit him on the bench.' But he found a role for me. He played me against lefties, and he got me comfortable playing in the big leagues.

"He believed in me. I ended up playing 13 years in the big leagues, and having the career that I did. He got me started in all of that. He's given me a lot of great advice throughout the years, and I have so much respect for him as a manager."

Tigers: Peralta will return
Jhonny Peralta will rejoin the Tigers on Friday after his 50-game suspension ends for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said the displaced shortstop turned left-field candidate will be activated to the 40-man roster on Thursday.

"He's worked hard, eager to get back," Dombrowski said. "The team has been receptive to him coming back, and we think it's best for the ball club to give him the opportunity."

Dombrowski said Peralta's place on a postseason roster has yet to be decided. Peralta, who hit .305 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs in 104 games before the suspension, has spent the past week or so working out in left field with the Tigers' instructional league team in Florida.

"I think we just have to have a comfort zone that he can perform out there," Dombrowski said. "And even if he can't perform out there as much as you'd like, does he still make you better going into the postseason with him on your roster, depending on how everything shapes up? And those are not discussions for today."

• Bruce Rondon is suffering from right-elbow discomfort after pitching a scoreless inning on Tuesday, in the same area that held him out for two weeks earlier this month.

"He came in today with some complaints of discomfort in his elbow, similar to what he had in Boston," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said. "It's hard to determine at this point if it's to that point, so we're just going to treat him today, try to get it quieted down and re-evaluate it."

Marlins: Mathis sits with bruised thumb
Jeff Mathis told Redmond that his bruised right thumb was bothering him once again after sustaining the injury on Sept. 9, which forced him to miss seven games.

"Hopefully, it's just a one-day thing or two-day thing," Redmond said.

Mathis is 1-for-23 in seven games since the injury. Koyie Hill filled in for Mathis on Wednesday, and the Marlins also have Rob Brantly as an option to catch if Mathis misses more time.

Worth noting
• Juan Pierre is 7-for-18 (.389) with one home run and five RBIs in his career against Porcello.

• Leyland has 700 wins as manager of the Tigers, becoming the third manager in franchise history to earn as many wins. Only Sparky Anderson (1,331 wins) and Hughie Jennings (1,131 wins) had more. This is Leyland's eighth season in Detroit.

Probables:

Friday: RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.38 ERA) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (4-10, 4.45 ERA)

Saturday: RHP Anibal Sanchez (14-8, 2.64 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-6, 3.50 ERA)

Sunday: RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.56 ERA) vs. RHP Henderson Alvarez (4-6, 3.94 ERA)


Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.) Shut down for season






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• SAT, Sep 28:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (14-8, 2.64 ERA)) AT
MARLINS (RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-6, 3.50 ERA))
7:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 29:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.56 ERA)) AT
MARLINS (RHP Henderson Alvarez (4-6, 3.94 ERA))
1:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
Jackson, A, CF
Dirks, RF
Cabrera, M, 3B
Fielder, 1B
Peralta, Jh, LF
Iglesias, SS
Avila, C
Perez, H, 2B
Alvarez, Jo, P


Miami
Solano, D, 2B
Polanco, 3B
Yelich, LF
Stanton, RF
Ruggiano, CF
Morrison, 1B
Hechavarria, SS
Hill, K, C
Koehler, P

Detroit - Top of 1st
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
A Jackson flied out to center.
A Dirks struck out looking.
M Cabrera lined out to right.


Miami - Bottom of 1st
Jose Alvarez pitching for Detroit
D Solano grounded out to second.
P Polanco singled to left.
C Yelich grounded into fielder's choice to second, P Polanco out at second.
G Stanton struck out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
P Fielder walked.
D Kelly ran for P Fielder.
J Peralta flied out to center.
A Avila lined out to center.
H Perez struck out swinging.


Miami - Bottom of 2nd
Jose Alvarez pitching for Detroit
D Kelly at first base.
J Ruggiano grounded out to third.
L Morrison struck out swinging.
A Hechavarria struck out looking.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
J Iglesias grounded out to shortstop.
J Alvarez walked.
A Jackson grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Alvarez out at second.


Miami - Bottom of 3rd
Jose Alvarez pitching for Detroit
K Hill singled to center.
T Koehler sacrificed to catcher, K Hill to second.
D Solano flied out to right.
P Polanco walked.
C Yelich walked, K Hill to third, P Polanco to second.
R Porcello relieved J Alvarez.
G Stanton doubled to left, K Hill, P Polanco and C Yelich scored.
MIA 3 - 0

J Ruggiano grounded out to shortstop.

MIA 3 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
A Dirks grounded out to shortstop.
M Cabrera singled to center.
D Kelly flied out to center.
J Peralta grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Cabrera out at second.


Miami - Bottom of 4th
Rick Porcello pitching for Detroit
L Morrison singled to center.
A Hechavarria grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, L Morrison out at second.
K Hill struck out looking.

MIA 3 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
A Avila walked.
H Perez singled to right, A Avila to second.
J Iglesias grounded into fielder's choice to second, H Perez out at second, A Avila to third.
V Martinez hit for R Porcello.
V Martinez flied out to left.
A Jackson singled to center, A Avila scored, J Iglesias to second.
MIA 3 - 1

A Dirks struck out swinging.


Miami - Bottom of 5th
Luke Putkonen pitching for Detroit
L Putkonen relieved R Porcello.
T Koehler flied out to right.
D Solano singled to left.
P Polanco flied out to right.
C Yelich struck out swinging.

MIA 3 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th
Tom Koehler pitching for Miami
M Cabrera singled to deep right.
M Tuiasosopo ran for M Cabrera.
D Kelly flied out to right.
J Peralta doubled to deep right center, M Tuiasosopo scored.
MIA 3 - 2

R Webb relieved T Koehler.
A Avila singled to right, J Peralta to third.
H Perez struck out swinging.
J Iglesias grounded out to pitcher.


Miami - Bottom of 6th
Luke Putkonen pitching for Detroit
M Tuiasosopo at first base.
D Kelly at third base.
G Stanton flied out to left.
J Ruggiano grounded out to shortstop.
L Morrison walked.
A Hechavarria grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, L Morrison out at second.

MIA 3 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
Ryan Webb pitching for Miami
B Pena hit for L Putkonen.
B Pena grounded out to second.
A Jackson lined out to right.
A Dirks grounded out to shortstop.


Miami - Bottom of 7th
Evan Reed pitching for Detroit
E Reed relieved L Putkonen.
K Hill struck out swinging.
J Pierre hit for R Webb.
J Pierre flied out to center.
D Solano grounded out to shortstop.

MIA 3 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
Chad Qualls pitching for Miami
C Qualls relieved R Webb.
M Tuiasosopo struck out swinging.
D Kelly fouled out to third.
J Peralta grounded out to third.


Miami - Bottom of 8th
Jose Veras pitching for Detroit
J Veras relieved E Reed.
N Castellanos in left field.
P Polanco grounded out to second.
C Yelich singled to center.
G Stanton struck out swinging.
C Yelich stole second.
J Ruggiano grounded out to second.

MIA 3 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Steve Cishek pitching for Miami
S Cishek relieved C Qualls.
A Avila singled to left.
R Santiago hit for H Perez.
R Santiago struck out swinging.
J Iglesias grounded into double play, second to first to shortstop, A Avila out at second.


TIGERS LOSE 2-3

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Koehler (5-10)
L: Alvarez (1-5)
SV: Cishek (34)


GAME INFO:

Pitches-strikes: Alvarez, Jo 50-26, Porcello 12-8, Putkonen 34-20, Reed, E 15-9, Veras 25-16, Koehler 91-52, Webb 22-13, Qualls 13-8, Cishek 10-7.
Groundouts-flyouts: Alvarez, Jo 4-1, Porcello 2-0, Putkonen 2-3, Reed, E 1-1, Veras 2-0, Koehler 5-5, Webb 3-0, Qualls 1-0, Cishek 1-0.
Batters faced: Alvarez, Jo 12, Porcello 5, Putkonen 8, Reed, E 3, Veras 4, Koehler 23, Webb 6, Qualls 3, Cishek 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Porcello 3-3, Webb 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Tom Hallion. 1B: Lance Barksdale. 2B: Ron Kulpa. 3B: Chris Guccione.
Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 14 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:51.
Att: 26,992.
Venue: Marlins Park.
September 27, 2013