GDT: 9/15/09 - DET (77-66) VS KC (57-86) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers came off a huge series eight days ago and fell into a trap at Kansas City. Now that they've come off back-to-back victories against the Blue Jays to regain their momentum, up comes the same trap.

The challenge now is not to step back in it.

"We play the schedule," manager Jim Leyland said. "The schedule says Kansas City's next. They just kicked our fanny pretty good. They're playing real good. They come in here relaxed. They've got a day off, and they've got good pitching lined up for us."

The Royals have some of the same pitching that held down Tigers last week at Kauffman Stadium. Plus, they've got ace Zack Greinke pitching in Thursday's series finale.

If this is the Tigers' final respite before their grind against the rest of the American League Central contenders over the final 2 1/2 weeks, it sure doesn't feel like it.

Technically, the Royals start the Tigers' season-ending stretch of three weeks against AL Central foes, a quirk in the schedule that makes Detroit's magic number countdown a little less meaningful. It also makes a team like the last-place Royals far more than spectators in this race.

Without Kansas City last week, Detroit might've taken command of this division, just as Minnesota could say the same about Cleveland. Leyland knows all about the spoiler role from his days managing in previous stops.

"I know myself, because I've been out of it several years," he said. "But I come here every day to beat the other team, no matter where we're at. You think Cito Gaston [in Toronto] wants to lose? That's not the way it works. If that was the case, I should be home."

The Royals will be home soon enough. Until then, they'd like to have an impact on the race.

Robinson Tejeda, for one, is having a big impact. He blanked the Tigers over six innings with eight strikeouts in his last time out in his attempt to nail down a rotation spot. Tuesday will be next test, as he tries to show he can hold down an opponent that has already seen him once.

Carlos Guillen had a single and a walk off Tejeda last week. Other than that, there wasn't much of anything from the Tigers' lineup against him.

Meanwhile, Detroit is hoping to get some effectiveness out of Jarrod Washburn, whose status for this start was briefly in question over the weekend until he told Leyland he was ready to go. Given the injury questions for Nate Robertson and Armando Galarraga, the Tigers needed Washburn to be ready.

What happens Tuesday won't simply set the tone for the series, it could further determine the course of the race as the Twins await their visit from the Tigers this coming weekend. The Royals could help determine whether the Tigers are trying to put the race away at that point, or trying to hold on.

"I think it could go to the final game," Leyland said. "I'm not saying it will, but it could. We're all playing each other."

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Jarrod Washburn (9-8, 3.60 ERA)
The good news from Washburn in his last start was that he was able to pitch through the soreness in his left knee, lasting five innings over 105 pitches while giving up three runs on seven hits to Kansas City in a no-decision. It wasn't feeling significantly better, Washburn said afterward, but he was able to deal with it. He'll get a rematch with the Royals, but at Comerica Park, where he hasn't won in five starts since joining the Tigers via trade from Seattle at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. He's 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA in seven outings overall with Detroit.

KC: RHP Robinson Tejeda (2-1, 3.21 ERA)
Tejeda has made two masterful starts, filling in for Gil Meche, who's been out with a tired shoulder. Tejeda shut out the Angels for 5 1/3 innings and followed that by blanking the Tigers for six innings last Wednesday night. He had a no-decision against the Angels, but earned the victory against the Tigers -- his first win as a starter since late last year. Previously this year, Tejeda had worked out of the bullpen, but now he's thrust himself into the rotation picture for the rest of this season and 2010. In his past 19 innings, he hasn't allowed a run and has 25 strikeouts.

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Tidbits

... Magglio Ordonez needs three more plate appearances to guarantee his $18 million contract option for next year, but there's no guarantee he'll get them Tuesday. Ordonez did not start against Tejeda last week, as the Tigers went with more left-handed hitters in their lineup.
... Miguel Cabrera needs one more home run to reach 30 for the fifth time in his Major League career.
... Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk will throw the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday: Tigers (Eddie Bonine, 0-0, 6.11 ERA) vs. Royals (Lenny DiNardo, 0-0, 3.60 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 12-6, 3.22 ERA) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 13-8, 2.19 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 13-8, 4.21 ERA) at Twins (Brian Duensing, 3-1, 3.53 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Kansas City AVG
DeJesus, D, LF .280
Bloomquist, RF .260
Butler, 1B .303
Olivo, DH .246
Callaspo, 2B .296
Maier, CF .251
Buck, J, C .217
Gordon, A, 3B .204
Betancourt, Y, SS .241

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .248
Guillen, C, LF .243
Ordonez, RF .296
Cabrera, M, 1B .332
Huff, A, DH .246
Avila, C .300
Inge, 3B .234
Santiago, 2B .259
Everett, SS .239

Current Conditions

Comerica Park

Sunny 78 F

Humidity: 47 %

Wind: from the E at 8 mph

Barometer: 30.03 in

last updated: 9/15/09 6:05 PM EDT

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
David DeJesus swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Willie Bloomquist doubles (10) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler walks.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Olivo walks. Willie Bloomquist to 3rd. Billy Butler to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 - With Alberto Callaspo batting, passed
ball by Alex Avila, Willie Bloomquist scores. Billy Butler to 3rd.
Miguel Olivo to 2nd.
KC 1, DET 0



B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Alberto Callaspo homers (10) on a fly ball to left center field. Billy Butler scores. Miguel Olivo scores.
KC 4, DET 0



B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Mitch Maier swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
John Buck singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Alex Gordon lines out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

KC 4, DET 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Billy Butler.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

KC 4, DET 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

replaces

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Jarrod Washburn.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Yuniesky Betancourt flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
David DeJesus swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Willie Bloomquist flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

KC 4, DET 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

KC 4, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Olivo grounds out, pitcher Zach Miner to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Alberto Callaspo called out on .

KC 4, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Ramon Santiago walks.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to left fielder David DeJesus.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson doubles (20) on a line drive to center fielder Mitch Maier. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Willie Bloomquist.



KC 4, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Casey Fien replaces Zach Miner.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Mitch Maier grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
John Buck hits a ground-rule double (10) on a fly ball to left-center field.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Gordon walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Yuniesky Betancourt flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. John Buck to 3rd.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
David DeJesus homers (13) on a fly ball to right field. John Buck scores. Alex Gordon scores.
KC 7, DET 0

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Willie Bloomquist grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 4, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Aubrey Huff lines out to right fielder Willie Bloomquist.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Avila on foul tip.

KC 4, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Olivo triples (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Alberto Callaspo out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Miguel Olivo scores. KC 8, DET 0


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Mitch Maier grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 8, DET 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Mitch Maier.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt in foul territory.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett walks.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson walks. Adam Everett to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Carlos Guillen singles on a ground ball
to right fielder Willie Bloomquist. Adam Everett scores. Curtis
Granderson to 2nd.
KC 8, DET 1

B:2 S:0 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez reaches on fielding
error by third baseman Alex Gordon. Curtis Granderson to 3rd. Carlos
Guillen to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

KC 8, DET 1 after 5 innings

Wow. This Tejeda guy is killing us.

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Clete Thomas replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 3rd, playing right field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces first baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 4th, playing first base.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Brent Dlugach replaces third baseman Brandon Inge, batting 7th, playing third base.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
John Buck flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Gordon walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Yuniesky Betancourt pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
David DeJesus flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

KC 8, DET 1 after 5.5 innings

gdennis59 wrote:

Wow. This Tejeda guy is killing us.

He did last time too. Washburnout did not help! He only lasted 1 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Dusty Hughes replaces Robinson Tejeda.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Aubrey Huff grounds out, second baseman Alberto Callaspo to first baseman Billy Butler.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gdennis59 wrote:

Wow. This Tejeda guy is killing us.

He did last time too. Washburnout did not help! He only lasted 1 inning

DL...

Let someone else start until the playoffs.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to left fielder David DeJesus.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brent Dlugach flies out to right fielder Willie Bloomquist.