GDT: 5/05/08 - DET (14-18) VS. BOS (20-13), 7:05 p.m. ET

GDT: 5/05/08 - DET (14-18) VS. BOS (20-13), 7:05 p.m. ET

GDT: 5/05/08 - DET (14-18) VS. BOS (20-13), 7:05 p.m. ET 2399123364_332a182ed0_o

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05/04/2008 8:38 PM ET
Tigers looking for their 'A' game
Detroit (14-18) vs. Boston (20-13), Monday, 7:05 p.m. ET
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Red Sox and Yankees are coming. So are the lineup changes.

Though the Tigers responded with a six-run first inning Sunday, their eight scoreless innings after that did nothing to change manager Jim Leyland's plan for what he called "drastic" changes to the batting order. They'll come at the start of what on paper looks like the toughest week on Detroit's home schedule with four games against the defending world champions and three against a Yankees club looking for revenge after the Tigers swept them in the Bronx last week.

Most likely, the changes will be more about where players are batting in the order than who's in the lineup.

If a new-look lineup doesn't provide a jolt, the opposition might.

"It just seems like, for whatever reason, up to this point -- and I don't know why -- but we just haven't had that sense of urgency," Leyland said. "It's almost like, 'Well, we won a couple, so it's OK if we lose a couple.' That's not good enough."

In theory, home surroundings should help, but they haven't made much difference so far. Detroit is 6-8 at home compared to 8-10 on the road, and half of its home victories came against a Rangers club that currently shares the worst record in the American League at 13-19.

The problem now is that at 14-18, the Tigers are just a game ahead of that mark. Their momentum from sweeping the Yankees last week has vanished, so they'll be trying to build from scratch when they take on a Red Sox squad that just swept Tampa Bay at Fenway Park over the weekend.

Somehow, third baseman Carlos Guillen said, they have to play the same way they did in New York. But they've had a problem with consistency all season, especially on the offensive end.

"We have to win games on the field," Guillen said. "Everybody knows we have a pretty good team. We have to be consistent."

Asked what the problem could be with the at-bats, Guillen wasn't sure.

"Maybe concentration," Guillen said. "I don't know. It's something."

The Red Sox have no such problems -- not at the moment, anyway. They scored 26 runs over their three-game sweep of the Rays after plating just four runs over their previous five games combined at Tampa Bay and against Toronto. However, Jeremy Bonderman held Boston to one earned run in five innings when they met at Fenway last month, earning Detroit its only win of that three-game series.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 3.86 ERA)
Bonderman has some momentum going in his favor following a victory at Yankee Stadium, where he loaded the bases three batters into the game and went on to toss 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball. It was one of the strongest performances of the season from a Tigers starter not named Armando Galarraga, and it showcased what Bonderman can do if he stays aggressive and claims the inside part of the plate against left-handed hitters. If he can do the same against David Ortiz and Boston's feared lineup, he'll give himself a shot to get over the .500 mark.

BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-0, 2.52 ERA)
Dating back to Sept. 22, 2007, the Red Sox have won Matsuzaka's last eight starts. Matsuzaka earned a no-decision in his last start, but was in top form, limiting the Blue Jays to two hits and no runs over seven innings. Matsuzaka turned in a strong performance against the Tigers on April 8, firing 6 2/3 shutout innings, and is limiting opponents to a .164 average.

Tidbits

Ortiz is just 4-for-24 lifetime against Bonderman with a double, a home run and five strikeouts. ... Gary Sheffield is 6-for-10 for his career against Matsuzaka with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs. ... All 23 of Curtis Granderson's home runs since last May 9 have been solo homers, the longest such streak in franchise history. ... The starting time of Saturday's game against the Yankees has been moved up five minutes to accommodate the FOX broadcast. First pitch is now scheduled for 3:40 p.m. ET rather than 3:45. rant

On the Internet
GDT: 5/05/08 - DET (14-18) VS. BOS (20-13), 7:05 p.m. ET Mlbtv

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD, ESPN

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Tue., May 6: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson, (1-3, 6.82 ERA)) vs Red Sox (RHP Tim Wakefield (2-1, 4.03 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Wed., May 7: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (2-1, 1.88 ERA)) vs Red Sox (RHP Clay Buchholz (2-2, 3.71 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Thur., May 8: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander, (1-5, 6.28)) vs. Red Sox (RHP Josh Beckett, (3-2, 4.19)), 7:05 p.m. ET

Tonights Starting Lineup:

Boston
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Lowell, 3B
Youkilis, 1B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Lugo, SS

Detroit
:curtis: 1. Curtis Granderson, CF
:placido: 2. Placido Polanco, 2B
C. Guillen