GDT: 9/3/10 - DET (66-68) AT KC (56-77) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Royals, Greinke welcome Tigers to KC

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com

In baseball, a pitcher's effort is often measured by whether he can throw a quality start -- an outing in which he goes at least six innings, allowing no more than three runs. In the case of Zack Greinke, those are common.

The problem is, the Royals rarely reciprocate that effort with a quality offensive start of their own.

Greinke has historically had trouble with run support pitching for Kansas City, notching a respectable ERA without the winning record to match. In his past 10 outings for the Royals, his teammates have averaged just 2.4 runs per game.

The uphill climb won't get any easier for Greinke on Friday, coming up against a team that has had great offensive success against the Royals recently. The Tigers outscored the Royals, 24-8, in the teams' last three-game series, which saw Detroit take two out of three.

"It was good to see everybody throw some hits in, big hits, knocking in runs with singles and doubles," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said during that series, in which Greinke did not pitch.

Greinke's strikeout-walk ratio stands at 3.62, good for sixth in the American League. In his last time out, though, he walked three in the second inning before holding the Indians to just two runs through eight innings.

"I came in after the first two innings like, 'I don't know what I could have done different,'" Greinke said after that start. "I threw everything I could possibly throw, with good locations. They just had amazing at-bats. Every single one of them."

Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who missed his last scheduled start on Saturday at Toronto with tightness around his rib cage, is expected to take the hill on Friday for the Tigers. Bonderman said he felt well enough after throwing on Tuesday to make the start, but if not, Alfredo Figaro would fill in.

Bonderman, who has a 7-9 record with a 5.27 ERA this year, has taken the ball to start games and come out of the 'pen for the Tigers this year.

And despite Detroit's large deficit in both the American League Central and Wild Card races -- after Thursday's extra-inning win over the Twins, the Tigers sit 11 games back in the division -- Leyland said his club still has something to play for.

"We're fighting for survival," Leyland said. "I hate the term spoiler, because we're not out of it. We're still playing for something."

Royals: Kendall to have surgery
Royals manager Ned Yost said on Wednesday that catcher Jason Kendall will undergo right shoulder surgery on Friday. Brayan Pena and Lucas May are expected to share the catching load in his absence, which could be eight to 10 months. ... Greinke is 11-5 in his career against the Tigers, his highest win total against any opponent. He's 4-1 with a 0.92 ERA in his past seven starts against Detroit dating back to Sept. 23, 2008.

Tigers: Cabrera injured
Miguel Cabrera left Thursday's game against the Twins in the top of the sixth inning with tendinitis in his left biceps. Cabrera didn't appear to visibly injure himself during the game and hadn't been dealing with any known arm injuries in recent days.

The club announced Cabrera's status as day-to-day, but his availability for Friday's opener wasn't immediately known. If Cabrera has to miss any significant time, it'd have a large impact on the Tigers' offense. Cabrera currently leads the Majors with 107 RBIs. His .338 average is also among the league leaders.

Worth noting
Wednesday's loss to the first-place Rangers dropped the Royals to 8-8 in rubber match games this year.

... The Tigers and Royals have split their 12 meetings this season. The Tigers are 3-3 in Kansas City.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.27 ERA)
Bonderman missed his scheduled start last Saturday at Toronto with tightness around his right rib cage, but he felt well enough throwing Tuesday that he expects to make his next assignment. If not, Alfredo Figaro would fill in for a spot start again.

ROYALS: RHP Zack Greinke (8-11, 3.81 ERA)
Greinke logged his ninth eight-inning start of the season Saturday, but the Indians tagged him for three runs on eight hits and four walks in a no-decision. The 26-year-old righty is 7-3 with a 3.61 ERA across his past 13 outings.


RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins 10-9 in 13 innings last night at Target Field. The Tigers blasted a season-high five home runs in the victory, solo shots from Don Kelly, Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Raburn, Casper Wells and the eventual game-winner from Gerald Laird. Austin Jackson led the Tigers with three hits, including a triple, and three runs scored. The Tigers continue a 10-game road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Following the conclusion of the current road trip, the club heads home for seven games beginning Monday afternoon.

EXTRA INNINGS, NO EXTRA BASES: Tigers pitchers did not allow an extra-base hit over last night’s 13-inning victory at Minnesota. It marked the first time a Tigers team has played a game of at least 13 innings and not allowed an extra-base hit since accomplishing the feat on September 27, 1987 in a 13-inning victory at Toronto.

A BUNT AND A BLAST: Gerald Laird entered last night’s game at Minnesota as a pinch hitter in the 11th inning and successfully executed a sacrifice bunt. In his second trip to the plate in the 13th inning, he blasted a game-winning home run off Nick Blackburn. It marks the first time that a player has entered a game in extra innings to put down a sacrifice bunt in his first trip to the plate, only to later hit a home run, since Milwaukee's Jim Gantner did it against the Red Sox on August 14, 1992. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau)

SUCCESSFUL TRIPS TO KAUFFMAN STADIUM: Since the start of the 2006 season, the Tigers have compiled a 27-15 record in games played against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. During the 42-game stretch, the Tigers are hitting .298 (452x1518) with 251 runs scored, 93 doubles, 11 triples and 55 home runs. Detroit’s pitchers have compiled a 3.67 ERA (365.0IP/149ER) over the course of the 42 games.

JACKSON PILING UP THE RUNS: Austin Jackson scored three runs last night at Minnesota and has now scored at least one run in 12 of his last 13 games, totaling 18 runs scored during the streak. He leads all American League rookies with 87 runs scored, the most by a Tigers rookie since Jake Wood scored 96 runs during the 1961 season.

PERALTA PICKING UP THE PRODUCTION: Jhonny Peralta belted a solo home run last night against the Twins and is batting .343 (23x67) with three doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI over his last 17 games dating back to August 15. He is tied for second in the American League with 17 RBI during that stretch.

JACKSON’S THREE-HIT MAGIC: Austin Jackson collected three hits last night against the Twin, marking his 13th game with three-or-more hits this season. His 13 games with three-or-more hits are the most by a Tigers rookie since Ricky Peters posted 15 games in 1980.

MIGGY MASHES AGAINST THE ROYALS: Miguel Cabrera enters tonight’s game at Kansas City Royals hitting .351 (67x191) with 10 doubles, 14 home runs and 43 RBI in 49 games against the club. He is fourth among all active major league players with a .351 batting average against the Royals, while he is fifth with a .623 slugging percentage.

WILL WIELDING A HOT BAT: Will Rhymes collected two hits last night against the Twins and has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. Rhymes ranks second among all American League rookies with a .315 batting average (35x111) since the all-star break.

SOMETHING ABOUT ST. PIERRE: When Max St. Pierre makes his major league debut he will become the oldest Tigers position player to make his major league debut since Mike Roarke made his debut behind the plate at Cleveland Stadium against the Indians on April 19, 1961. Roarke was 30 years, 162 days old when he made his debut, while St. Pierre enters play tonight 30 years, 140 days.

IT STARTS WITH PITCHING: Tigers starting pitchers have logged a quality start in 12 of the last 13 games, posting a 7-1 record and 1.99 ERA (90.1IP/20ER) during the stretch. Tigers starting pitchers have fanned 71 batters while walking 13 over the 13 games.

RABURN ON A ROLL: Ryan Raburn enters tonight’s game at Kansas City hitting .333 (33x99) with seven doubles, nine home runs and 23 RBI over his last 26 games dating back to August 5. He leads the American League with 23 RBI during that stretch, while he is second with nine home runs and third with a .677 slugging percentage.

MIGGY’S MOUNTAIN OF HOME RUNS ON THE ROAD: Miguel Cabrera leads the American League with 21 home runs on the road this season. The 21 road home runs are third-most by a Tigers player since at least 1952. Cabrera trails Cecil Fielder with 26 road home runs in 1990 and Rocky Colavito with 27 road home runs in 1961.

RONDON NAMED TO GCL POST-SEASON ALL-STAR SQUAD: The Gulf Coast League announced yesterday that righthanded pitcher Bruce Rondon has been named to the league’s post-season all-star team. Prior to his promotion to Single A Lakeland, Rondon posted a 0.70 ERA (25.2IP/2ER) and 15 saves in 24 games with the GCL Tigers.

INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23)


Out for Season
Expected Back


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Saturday, September 4,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (7-11, 5.20 ERA)) AT ROYALS (LHP Bruce Chen (9-7, 4.76 ERA)), 7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, September 5,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 3.98 ERA)) AT ROYALS (RHP Kyle Davies (6-9, 5.23 ERA)), 2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Rhymes, 2B .315
Damon, DH .266
Raburn, LF .255
Boesch, RF .268
Peralta, J, SS .252
Kelly, 1B .234
Inge, 3B .254
Avila, C .218
Wells, C, CF .355
Totals .270

Kansas City AVG
Blanco, G, CF .270
Maier, RF .262
Butler, 1B .308
Betemit, DH .321
Fields, 3B .000
Gordon, A, LF .228
Pena, B, C .212
Getz, 2B .233
Betancourt, Y, SS .267
Totals .274