GDT: 6/6/08 - DET (24-35) VS CLEV (26-32), 7:05 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- Still waiting.

This was supposed to be the stretch when the Tigers and Indians were rounding into midseason form and establishing themselves as contenders in the American League Central. Detroit's stacked lineup was expected to be piling up runs by now, and the Indians offense was certain to be supporting its rotation heading into this weekend's four-game series at Comerica Park.

So far, neither has happened. And neither has the AL Central showdown so many people anticipated heading into the season. Moreover, the season is nearing the point where it's a question whether either team will reach their potential.

The Tigers, for one, continue to struggle with the same problems night after night. For them, the series welcomes them back home after a nine-game, 10-day West Coast road trip in which they suffered four walk-off losses and closed with a series sweep in Oakland that left them with a 3-6 mark and a season-worst 11 games under .500.

As manager Jim Leyland looked at the performance Wednesday, it wasn't hard to pinpoint the source of his frustrations.

"If this club, up to this point, had hit like it was expected to, we'd be close to being in first place right now, in my opinion," Leyland said. "We've lost one game after another, shut out, 1-0, score two runs, one run, score four runs [Tuesday] night with 22 baserunners. That's just not acceptable.

"That's just the way it is. Once again, it's not a criticism. It's just the facts. If this club was doing anywhere near what it's supposed to be doing offensively, we'd be probably in third place for sure, and not very far out of first, in my opinion."

Instead, the Tigers are struggling to stay out of the Central cellar. The Indians are in third place, but well behind the White Sox and Twins while they battle at the top.

Leyland expected to talk with president/general manager Dave Dombrowski on Thursday to talk about roster moves, including a likely roster move with injured Ramon Santiago, a decision on starters Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga for one spot in the rotation, and the expected return of reliever Denny Bautista from the disabled list. But sparking a relatively dormant offense will likely remain a topic.

Detroit's performance in Wednesday's series finale continued the struggles. The Tigers faced a 3-0 deficit at one point but had chances to tie the game in the sixth and seventh innings. They didn't, and the A's ran away with the series sweep late.

Part of the problem, Leyland said, is pitch selection.

"We talk about preparation, at-bat after at-bat," Leyland said. "In a lot of situations, it looks like to me, we take strikes and swing at balls. And that's just not concentration, in my opinion."

In other occasions, when they swing at strikes, the bats have been slow. At times, Leyland said, "It looks like we're swinging underwater."

Other times, their right-handed hitters are popping out to right.

Whatever the case, that's not a good sign for the Tigers heading into a meeting with Indians starter Paul Byrd, who walked just 28 batters over 192 1/3 innings last year and eight over 63 2/3 innings this season.

Leyland continues to say he believes they'll get the offense going. Even if they do, the question becomes whether they can do it in time to get into the mix atop the division. In that sense, this upcoming homestand could be big for them.

After spending the last week and a half, the Tigers are home for 10 games in 10 days. Following the wraparound series against the Tribe, the Tigers welcome the White Sox into town for three games, then resume Interleague Play with three games against the Dodgers.

Given the pitching on all three clubs, it won't be a matter of beating up on struggling arms. If they turn it around in this stretch, they'll have to hit some good arms having good seasons, including red-hot Aaron Laffey on Saturday and eight-game winner Cliff Lee on Monday.

"We made our own situation," Leyland said. "We've got to handle it."


2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (2-8, 5.16 ERA)
See that loss total? The Tigers have scored two runs or fewer in seven of those defeats, giving him a run support average of 3.12 runs per nine innings as the pitcher of record -- fourth-lowest among qualified AL starters. The other problem, of course, is his pitching, and Felix Hernandez purely outpitched Verlander in his last start. With four runs allowed over seven innings, one of them on a botched squeeze bunt attempt that became a steal of home, Verlander saw his three-game streak of quality starts come to an end. He's 3-6 with a 7.03 ERA in 10 career starts against the Indians, but 2-1 when facing them at Comerica Park.

CLE: RHP Paul Byrd (2-5, 4.66 ERA)
Byrd gave up a home run to Jose Guillen against the Royals on Sunday and never recovered. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings and gave up all six runs in a loss. Mark Grudzielanek, who hadn't homered since last year, hit a two-run shot off him. Byrd lamented the fact that he struggled so much when his team really needed a series win. Byrd has given up 14 home runs this season.


Tidbits

Brandon Inge remains day-to-day with a pulled left oblique muscle. He said it felt about the same Wednesday as Tuesday, and the Tigers are hoping Thursday's off-day allows him some more healing time. ... Carlos Guillen has a six-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .304 (7-for-23). ... The Tigers split a two-game series in Cleveland in April, the only meeting between the two clubs so far this season.


On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sat., June 7: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 4-4, 5.54) vs. Indians (Aaron Laffey, 3-3, 3.02), 3:55 p.m. ET

• Sun., June 8: Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman, 3-4, 4.29) vs. Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 0-0, 5.23), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., June 9: Tigers (TBD) vs. Indians (?Cliff Lee, LHP (9-1, 2.45)), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Cleveland AVG
Sizemore, CF .257
Francisco, LF .327
Martinez, C .284
Garko, 1B .264
Peralta, SS .234
Dellucci, DH .242
Blake, 3B .236
Gutierrez, RF .255
Cabrera, A 2B .192

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .243
:placido: Polanco, 2B .284
Guillen, LF .295
Ordonez, RF .318
Cabrera, 1B .271
Larish, DH .105
:edgar: Renteria, SS .266
:pudge: Rodriguez, C .249
Inge, 3B .221

This will be a game to watch!

Unfortunately i can't! Toooooo late.... or toooo early

GO TIGERS! GO JUSTIN! Get your third win! And you offense! Give him some run support!!

I cant watch!!!

91 degrees at Game Time!


Hot Weather Warning in Effect

Let's hope our latino guys enjoys the heat!

If this doesn't bring 'em alive, nothing will! not even me

Not even you??
I can not and will not believe that! I'm sure you could bring Maggs alive!

omg don't get me started!

I credit Lap with the two homer game he had! We all need to start writing letters to the guys encouraging them and letting them know we love them and hope their clubhouse problems get straightened out!

just doin' my bit....sometimes wish I could do a LOT more....

Write them letters Lap, you have creditability with Maggs now!

Stat of the day: Magglio Ordonez' home batting average this year... .396. (Best in the AL).

bobrob2004 wrote:

Stat of the day: Magglio Ordonez' home batting average this year... .396. (Best in the AL).

don't I know it!!!

GO TIGERS!!! Beat Tribe!!! It would be awesome if we could win today, after all the red wings celebrations, why not give detroit something else to celebrate?

Sizemore at bat.

Full count.

Sizemore walks.

One on.

K! One out.

2 out.

Garko at bat with 2 outs..

Stolen base by sizemore.

Pudge talking to Verlander.

K! inning over.

little poop Grady!

Hey Lap

hey! Just glad they are back home safe and playing again...........

Grandy out.


Polly at bat.

Polly out.

Guilen at bat. Basehit!!

MAGGS!!! At bat....

GUILLEN STEALS!!!

Tigers out. Top of the second.

RATS.

Clete and Santiago on the disabled list.