GDT: 8/29/11 - DET (73-60) VS KC (55-79) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Scherzer, Tigers want to take care of own business

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/28/2011 5:28 PM ET

The Tigers continue to distance themselves from the rest of the American League Central, and they now return to Detroit for a seven-game homestand during which they hope they can extend their lead.

The upcoming week, which begins Monday with a four-game series against the Royals, is part of a key portion of the schedule. Monday's contest marks the fourth in a stretch of 19 straight games against division foes, and the Tigers close the season by playing AL Central teams in 21 of their final 29 games.

The easiest way to keep a comfortable distance ahead of the Indians and White Sox is to take care of their own business, and the Tigers look to do just that Monday behind the right arm of Max Scherzer.

Scherzer has improved as the season's progressed, going 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA and .237 average against in his past nine starts, compared to a 4.90 ERA and .281 average against in his first 18. After tossing at least 120 pitches in his prior two starts, Scherzer threw only 97 while lasting five innings in his last outing against the Rays.

"He wasn't going to throw more than 100 pitches," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "I was hoping I could get six innings out of him. But he had a lot of three-ball counts, and we couldn't do that."

The Royals will try to play spoiler on Monday behind right-hander Luke Hochevar. Kansas City has dropped each of the past four games Hochevar has started, although the team has been close in all, losing by one run in each.

Hochevar last faced Detroit on July 9, lasting only 3 2/3 innings as the Tigers touched him for six runs on nine hits. He's 3-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 10 career games (nine starts) against the Tigers.

Royals: Gordon making history
• Outfielder Alex Gordon has a Major League-leading 20 assists this season, making him just the 24th player since 1969 to have 20 in a single season and the first to reach the mark since Alfonso Soriano had 22 for the Nationals in 2006. According to Stats, Inc., Gordon is one of only two players in history to record at least 20 outfield assists and commit one or fewer errors as an outfielder, joining Joe Orsulak, who had 22 assists and one error with the Orioles in 1991.

Tigers: Papa Grande and the 'pen
• Jose Valverde, who has converted 39 consecutive saves, is one save shy of becoming only the second pitcher in Tigers history to record 40 saves in a single season. Todd Jones owns the franchise best with 42, set in 2000. Valverde is just one of Detroit's dominant relievers. The Tigers' bullpen has a 1.84 ERA and 72 strikeouts in its past 23 games.

• After missing two games while on the paternity list for the birth of his son, Luke Thomas, Don Kelly returned to the Tigers on Sunday. Infielder Danny Worth was optioned to Triple-A Toledo.

• Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is hitting .480 (12-for-25) with two doubles and two homers in his career against Hochevar.

• Infielder Carlos Guillen is slated to begin a rehab assignment Monday.

Worth noting
• Royals rookie third baseman Mike Moustakas has an 11-game hitting streak in which he's batting .487 with five doubles.

• Tigers catcher Alex Avila, on a 12-game hitting streak, is hitting .400 with seven doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 23 games this month.

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (13-7, 4.21 ERA)

Scherzer labored through five innings, throwing 97 pitches, in his last start on Wednesday at Tampa Bay, seemingly struggling to get comfortable on the mound. He ended up with a no-decision in a game that went into extra innings.


Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar (8-10, 4.91 ERA)

Hochevar had one poor inning caused by a couple bad pitches, costing him three runs last Wednesday at Toronto, but otherwise looked very strong in a no-decision. He's continued to pitch well since the All-Star break with a 3-2 record and a 3.66 ERA.


Game Information




INJURY UPDATE:

• INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist, 15-day disabled list on August 13),
• RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion, 15-day disabled list on August 12).
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



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• Tuesday, August 30:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (6-13, 3.35 ERA)) VS
Royals (LHP Jeff Francis (5-14, 4.82 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Wednesday, August 31:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (12-8, 5.01 ERA)) VS
Royals (RHP Felipe Paulino (2-6, 3.83 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Thursday, September 1:
Tigers (RHP Jacob Turner (0-1, 3.38 ERA)) VS
Royals (LHP Danny Duffy (3-8, 5.55 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Kansas City
Gordon, LF
Cabrera, Me, CF
Butler, DH
Hosmer, 1B
Francoeur, RF
Moustakas, 3B
Giavotella, 2B
Getz, 2B
Perez, S, C
Escobar, A, SS

Detroit
Jackson, A, CF
Santiago, 2B
Young, D, LF
Cabrera, Mi, 1B
Martinez, V, DH
Avila, C
Peralta, Jh, SS
Betemit, 3B
Kelly, RF

KC - Top 1st
B:1 S:2 O:0
Alex Gordon homers (19) on a line drive to right field.
KC 1 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:1
Melky Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Billy Butler out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Eric Hosmer singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Jeff Francoeur out swinging.

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago triples (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Delmon Young pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.

KC 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

KC - Top 2nd
B:1 S:2 O:1
Mike Moustakas grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Johnny Giavotella singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Salvador Perez doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Don Kelly. Johnny Giavotella scores.
KC 2 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alcides Escobar grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alex Gordon grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Victor Martinez out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer.


KC 2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

KC - Top 3rd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Melky Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Billy Butler singles on a ground ball to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Billy Butler to 2nd. Melky Cabrera advances to 3rd, on throwing error by third baseman Wilson Betemit.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Eric Hosmer walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Jeff Francoeur lines out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Mike Moustakas pops out to second baseman Ramon Santiago on the infield fly rule.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Johnny Giavotella doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Melky Cabrera scores. Billy Butler scores. Eric Hosmer scores. Johnny Giavotella out at 3rd, left fielder Delmon Young to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to catcher Alex Avila to third baseman Wilson Betemit.
KC 5 - 0

DET - Bot 3rd
B:4 S:1 O:0
Wilson Betemit walks.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Wilson Betemit to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

With Ramon Santiago batting, wild pitch by Luke Hochevar, Wilson Betemit to 3rd. Don Kelly to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.Wilson Betemit scores. Don Kelly to 3rd.
KC 5 - 1

B:2 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young singles on a sharp ground ball to shortstop Alcides Escobar, deflected by third baseman Mike Moustakas. Don Kelly scores.
KC 5 - 2

B:1 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Delmon Young to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera. Delmon Young scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.
KC 5 - 3

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila grounds into a force out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Victor Martinez out at 2nd.

KC 5 - 3 AFTER 3 INNINGS

KC - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Salvador Perez homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
KC 6 - 3

B:3 S:2 O:0
Alcides Escobar homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.
KC 7 - 3

B:1 S:1 O:0
Alex Gordon singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Max Scherzer.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Melky Cabrera
grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman
Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alex Gordon out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Billy Butler flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Wilson Betemit grounds out, pitcher Luke Hochevar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Don Kelly grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC 7 - 3 AFTER 4 INNINGS

KC - Top 5th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Eric Hosmer lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:0 O:1
Jeff Francoeur doubles (41) on a line drive to right fielder Don Kelly.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Mike Moustakas grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jeff Francoeur to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Johnny Giavotella grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera doubles (35) on a fly ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Austin Jackson scores.
KC 7 - 4

B:2 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC 7 - 4 AFTER 5 INNINGS

KC - Top 6th
B:4 S:1 O:0
Salvador Perez walks.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Alcides Escobar grounds into a force out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Salvador Perez out at 2nd. Alcides Escobar to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Alex Gordon singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alcides Escobar to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Melky Cabrera doubles (36) on a fly ball to right fielder Don Kelly. Alcides Escobar scores. Alex Gordon to 3rd.
KC 8 - 4

B:4 S:0 O:1
Duane Below intentionally walks Billy Butler.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Eric Hosmer out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Austin Jackson. Alex Gordon scores.
KC 8 - 4

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jeff Francoeur flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET - Bot 6th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta out on foul tip.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Wilson Betemit walks.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC 9 - 4 AFTER 6 INNINGS

KC - Top 7th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Mike Moustakas pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Johnny Giavotella grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Dropped foul pop error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Alcides Escobar singles on a ground ball to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Salvador Perez to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Duane Below.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alex Gordon singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Salvador Perez out at home on the throw, center fielder Austin Jackson to catcher Alex Avila.

DET - Bot 7th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago lines out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC 9 - 4 AFTER 7 INNINGS

KC - Top 8th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Billy Butler flies out to right fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Eric Hosmer grounds into a force out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Melky Cabrera out at 2nd. Eric Hosmer to 1st.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Jeff Francoeur grounds out, third baseman Wilson Betemit to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 8th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon.

Pitcher Change: Tim Collins replaces Luke Hochevar.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera, deflected by left fielder Alex Gordon. Miguel Cabrera scores. Victor Martinez to 2nd. Missed catch error by left fielder Alex Gordon.
KC 9 - 5

B:4 S:2 O:0
Alex Avila walks.

Pitcher Change: Blake Wood replaces Tim Collins.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds into double play, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Victor Martinez out at 3rd. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Wilson Betemit out swinging.

KC 9 - 5 AFTER 8 INNINGS

KC - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces Ryan Perry.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Mike Moustakas singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Johnny Giavotella flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Salvador Perez grounds into double play, third baseman Wilson Betemit to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Mike Moustakas out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 9th
Defensive Substitution: Chris Getz replaces second baseman Johnny Giavotella, batting 7th, playing second base.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.