GDT: 9/5/10 - DET (68-68) AT KC (56-79) - 2:10 p.m. ET

Galarraga, Davies face off in finale

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

With the Tigers and Royals essentially out of contention in the American League Central, both clubs are using the rest of the season to give chances to inexperienced players.

It was certainly the case in the Tigers' 6-4 win on Saturday when two catchers made their Major League debuts in the same game -- with Lucas May, 25, behind the plate for the Royals, and Max St. Pierre, 30, making his first start for the Tigers.

The two catchers are also expected to be used plenty moving forward, as the Royals' catcher Jason Kendall is out for the season after shoulder surgery and the Tigers' catcher Gerald Laird has been battling lower back tightness.

"He's going to be thrown in the fire," Royals manager Ned Yost said of May. "We want to get a look at him. And the only way is by letting him play."

St. Pierre, meanwhile, became the second-oldest player in franchise history to make his Major League debut, as he played 978 games in the Minor Leagues over 14 seasons.

"I know what he can do," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of St. Pierre, who hit .300 this season with Triple-A Toledo. "He can catch. He can throw and he might get a hit. He did hit .300 this year, but I know he can catch and throw."

The two clubs will turn to veteran starting pitchers, however, when they meet again on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. Tigers right-hander Armando Galarraga will get the nod against Royals right-hander Kyle Davies.

Galarraga is coming off a solid start against the Twins on Tuesday, when he allowed two runs over six innings but was saddled with a no-decision when the bullpen blew a late lead in a 4-3 loss.

It marked the second straight outing that Galarraga saw a late lead disappear -- and it's a reason why he is just 4-5 this season despite a 3.98 ERA.

Davies, meanwhile, is coming off one of his best outings of the season, as he allowed just two earned runs over 8 1/3 innings against the Rangers on Monday -- but didn't get any run support in a 3-0 loss.

He'll be looking to build on that start, as everything went his way except for the offensive support from the Royals.

"Every single ball was pretty much where I wanted it," Davies said. "I was ahead and they weren't just strikes, they were quality strikes down in the zone and close to the mitt -- and I think that got better as the game went along."

Tigers: Rhymes' streak at 12 games
Rookie Will Rhymes extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a single in the first inning on Saturday. Rhymes, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 18, said he hasn't been shocked by his recent success.

"I wouldn't say surprised," Rhymes said. "I've always felt like I'm a good hitter. I thought I could play at this level. I'm happy to have gotten off to a good start. It's a game where you have highs and lows."

Royals: Kendall doing fine after surgery
Catcher Jason Kendall had season-ending shoulder surgery on Friday in Los Angeles and is expected to be out eight to 12 months. Yost said on Saturday that he talked to Kendall by phone after his surgery.

"You can't print it," Yost said of their conversation. "He's still a little testy, but he's doing fine."

Worth noting
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera returned to the lineup on Saturday against the Royals after leaving Thursday's game in Minnesota with left biceps tendinitis and missing Friday's contest.

... Royals first baseman Billy Butler's streak of hitting in consecutive series reached 95 with his two singles in the opener on Friday night against Detroit.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (4-5, 3.98 ERA)
Don't let the win total this late in the season fool you. Galarraga has left with the lead after solid starts in his last two outings, only to watch Detroit's bullpen lose it. He has allowed three runs over 19 1/3 innings in his last three starts.

ROYALS: RHP Kyle Davies (6-9, 5.23 ERA)
Davies went 8 1/3 innings, longest outing in his Royals career, but lost, 3-0, to the Rangers. It was a good bounce-back start from a drubbing at Detroit and his control, often a problem, was on target -- 72 strikes and just one walk in 112 pitches.




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)


• Monday, September 6,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (10-9, 3.45 ERA)) VS WHITE SOX (To Be Announced (0-0, 0.00 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Tuesday, September 7,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.61 ERA)) VS WHITE SOX (To Be Announced (0-0, 0.00 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, September 8,
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.25 ERA)) VS WHITE SOX (To Be Announced (0-0, 0.00 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

let's just say i was hoping for better,....this is very disappointing, but that's the life of a tiger fan...