GDT: 9/20/08 - DET (71-81) AT CLEV (76-77) - 7:05 p.m. ET

CLEVELAND -- Justin Verlander gets one more chance at the Indians, one of the American League Central rivals who have haunted him this season. The Tigers, meanwhile, get one last shot at trying to avoid what would be their first losing season since 2005.

In terms of significance down the road, it's Verlander that has become the Tigers' priority. Take away his 2-9 record combined against the White Sox and Indians, and he would have actually have a winning record for the season. The problem behind that, of course, is that the division games are the more important ones for Detroit.

As it is, Verlander heads into his next-to-last start this season tied for the Major League lead in losses with the Giants' Barry Zito and the Reds' Aaron Harang. He could finish as the first Tigers pitcher to lead the Majors in losses since Mike Maroth lost 21 in 2003.

One-quarter of Verlander's losses have come to the Indians, including two in Cleveland. The only team to have beaten him more is Chicago, where Verlander lost in his last outing Sunday.

"It's not like it's a wall I have to get over," Verlander said on his struggles with those two clubs. "It's just a matter of going out and making my pitches. And I think [Sunday] was a big step for me. I wasn't too amped up. I was just nice and calm out there. I saw the results.

"It might be a case of going [to Chicago] and going to Cleveland, I get too amped up, maybe try to do too much. Take a look at what happened [Sunday] and realize that if I just make pitches and don't try to do too much, things will be fine."

His extra energy facing the Indians might have showed in some of his pitch counts while he struggled to settle down and command. Cleveland forced him to use up 115 pitches over six innings in their last meeting Aug. 27 at Comerica Park, where Verlander gave up five runs on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. He used up 114 pitches over 5 2/3 innings in their previous clash in Cleveland on July 31, many of them en route to racking up nine strikeouts despite allowing six runs on five hits.

In that sense, Sunday's loss to the White Sox was more workable for him, with 104 pitches over 7 2/3 innings. What he lost in strikeouts, he gained in efficiency. Whether he carries that over to an Indians lineup now closer to full strength could bring some momentum into the offseason.



Pitching matchup


DET: RHP Justin Verlander, (10-16, 4.78 ERA)
Verlander gets the start after going 7 2/3 innings allowing four runs, all earned, on nine hits against the White Sox on Sunday, which he took the loss in. In 14 career starts against the Indians, Verlander is 4-9 with a 6.59 ERA.

CLE: LHP Jeremy Sowers, (3-8, 5.70 ERA)
Sowers continues to be a mystery this season, as he put up one of his shortest outings on Sunday against the Royals. Coming off his best start of the season, in which he held the Orioles to a run over eight innings, Sowers resumed his knack of nibbling to no avail and giving up big hits in tight situations. Over three innings and an obtuse 75 pitches, the 25-year-old left-hander gave up three runs on five hits to pick up a no-decision. In his two starts against Detroit this season, Sowers has labored, going 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA. Sowers is 1-3 with an 8.24 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers.

Tidbits

The Tigers and Indians could be playing without some of their players, depending on how quickly Major League Baseball determines guilt and issues suspensions for players involved in Friday's bench-clearing fracas. Gary Sheffield, Placido Polanco, Fausto Carmona and Victor Martinez were all ejected, while others were shown on replays to have thrown punches in the incident. ...

Curtis Granderson is 4-for-8 with one home run and four RBIs lifetime against Sowers. Miguel Cabrera is 4-for-5 off Sowers this year, with one homer and three RBIs.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND


On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sun., Sept 21: Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis, (0-1, 8.82 ERA)) vs. Indians (LHP Scott Lewis, (2-0, 0.00 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., Sept 22: Tigers (RHP Zach Miner, 8-4, 4.16) vs. Royals (RHP Gil Meche, (12-11, 4.08 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Tues., Sept 23: Tigers (RHP Freddy Garcia, (1-0, 0.00 ERA)) vs. Royals (RHP Zack Greinke, (12-10, 3.59 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .290
:placido: Polanco, 2B .306
Ordonez, RF .326
Cabrera, 1B .298
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .220
:ryan: Raburn, LF .242
:edgar: Renteria, SS .269
Inge, 3B .211
:dusty: Ryan, C .364

Cleveland AVG
Sizemore, CF .274
Carroll, 3B .274
Choo, LF .307
Peralta, SS .274
Hafner, DH .211
Shoppach, C .269
Garko, 1B .259
Gutierrez, RF .249
A. Cabrera, 2B .245

71 degrees at Game Time

Partly Cloudy

West Winds at 6mph

think he's turnin' over in his grave right about now?

Man, I have to watch Dontrelle wreck tomorrow. Nah, what am I saying, He'll do good, I hope. Im sure Ill have a blast.

game on


Granderson leading off

73 degrees at Game Time

2-2 count on Curtis

Granderson K's

GO TIGERS!!!

Polanco doubles

Maggs at bat

come on

0-2 count

WP

Polanco to third

Ground Ball

2 out

1-0 Tigers

Maggs gets an RBI. Tigers lead 1-0.

Miggy at bat

0-2

1-2

2-2

Foul ball

Base hit to right

Cabrera with a single! Get that average over .300!

Sheff at bat


Fans booing his ass

Sheffield is greeted with boos...

1-0

Fair! Double!

Fair Ball

Sheff doubles;

Miggy to third

Raburn at bat

1-0

1-1