GDT: 4/25/08 - DET (10-13) vs. LAA (14-9), 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- What appeared to be a major weakness for the Tigers before the season has looked like a strength during the team's ascent from the depths of last place.

Detroit's bullpen has shined during its recent four-game winning streak. The offense has scored 10.5 runs per game during the streak, but it has been a corps of unproven relievers that has kept opponents off the scoreboard and prevented games from getting interesting. The 'pen has allowed two runs in its last 16 2/3 innings.

"Anytime you can go out there and throw well, it builds your confidence for everybody," reliever Zach Miner said. "I think that's what's been happening.

"You can say here, we're not doing as bad as everybody expected we were going to."

Only one reliever on the current roster has an ERA over 3.86. Three relievers -- Aquilino Lopez, Denny Bautista and closer Todd Jones -- have ERAs 2.25 or lower. But the biggest surprise has been left-hander Clay Rapada, who is tied for the team lead with two wins and has surrendered no runs and two hits in five appearances.

"They've done the job," manager Jim Leyland said. "We've put them in the right spots, protected them a little bit, and if we can get enough innings out of our starting pitching, they should be OK."

The Tigers will need strong pitching in a three-game series starting on Friday night against the high-scoring Angles, who just took two of three at Boston.

Not good news for Friday's starter, Nate Robertson, who has a 0-4 record against the Angles with an 8.91 ERA. Last year in his only start against them, he gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"You just go in with a game plan and try to execute. That's all you can do," Robertson said. "I really don't go in there thinking of anything that's happened in the past."

Robertson praised the recent performances of the offense and bullpen, but he said he won't take them for granted.

"You can't rely on the bullpen saving the day from the fifth inning on, and you can't rely on the offense scoring seven-plus a game," he said. "Me personally, going out there and getting deep is the key."



Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (0-2, 7.48 ERA)
Robertson was cruising during his last start against the Blue Jays until he ran into trouble during the fourth inning. Robertson escaped the four-run inning, but was finished after five. He allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out five en route to his second loss of the season. Robertson is 0-4 with an 8.91 ERA against the Angles.

LAA: RHP Ervin Santana (3-0, 2.67 ERA)
Santana, returning to 2006 form when he won 16 games, is coming off one of the finest efforts of his career on Saturday at home against the Mariners. Across eight innings, he yielded three hits and no walks, striking out eight. At Comerica Park, he's 0-2 with a 15.26 ERA.

Tidbits

The Tigers swept the Rangers in a three-game series for the first time since 2002. ... Detroit's five home runs on Thursday are the most by a team in the Majors this season. ... Jones celebrated his 40th birthday on Thursday. ... Magglio Ordonez has hit .500 (4-for-8) against Santana with two doubles and three RBIs. He has a .326 average in 72 career games against the Angles.




On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Saturday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 2-0, 1.50) vs. Angels (Dustin Moseley, 1-2, 7.78), 3:55 p.m. ET

• Sunday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 1-3, 5.93) vs. Angels (Jered Weaver, 1-3, 4.50), 8:05 p.m. ET

• Monday: Off-day

This will be a hard one to win with our weakest pitcher (imho). Still love you Nate, you're an awesome guy!

GO TIGERS! Our offense will do some damage again and so we will win this one nevertheless.

Offense to the rescue of the bullpen!

Oh no! Robertson's pitching tonight! It's going to take a miracle for a 5-game winning streak...

bobrob2004 wrote:

Oh no! Robertson's pitching tonight! It's going to take a miracle for a 5-game winning streak...

Maybe our bullpen will come in early

bobrob2004 wrote:

Oh no! Robertson's pitching tonight! It's going to take a miracle for a 5-game winning streak...

my thoughts exactly!

I'm going to be there today! Yay They better win

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Oh no! Robertson's pitching tonight! It's going to take a miracle for a 5-game winning streak...

Maybe our bullpen will come in early

To be fair to poor Nate, sometimes it's not his fault when he starts and we lose. The boys have a way with not giving him the run support he requires...

77 degrees at Game Time; With South Winds at 10-20; chance of T Storms;

Especially after 9 pm.

It would be great if Nate went 5 scoreless innings and then we have a big downpour, causing a 5 inning rain shortened Tigers Victory!

About the only way,[ unless we get a no hitter or perfect game ]that a Tigers Starting Pitcher gets a CG!

TigerLily wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Oh no! Robertson's pitching tonight! It's going to take a miracle for a 5-game winning streak...

Maybe our bullpen will come in early

To be fair to poor Nate, sometimes it's not his fault when he starts and we lose. The boys have a way with not giving him the run support he requires...

Robertson has been given an average of 5 runs/start which should be plenty. And it's not the offense's fault that Robertson's ERA is 7.48.

omg he's that obvious!
he needs to be a little sneakier!

My prediction: Tigers 7 Angels 4!

GO TIGERS GO!

GO TIGERS!!!

Stat of the day: Ervin Santana's ERA at Comerica Park in 2007...19.64.

Alright, let's go Tigers!!

Agh, losing my voice!

First pitch is a strike. Let's hope that's an omen.

There's one out.

Lineups

LA Angels
Figgins, 3B
Matthews, LF
Guerrero, RF
Hunter, CF
Rivera, DH
Aybar, SS
Mathis, C
Kotchman, 1B
Izturis, 2B

Detroit AB
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Sheffield, DH
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Jones, J, LF
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C
Inge, 3B

Go Tigers!

Tigers down 1-2-3

Go Nate!!!!!

Two down for Angels

YAY Nate!

Aybar - k - wow 3 out

lines out

k

:jjones: flies out

Top of 3rd

Mathis - flies out

Base hit for the Halos.

Kotchman - singles