GDT: 9/20/11 - DET (89-64) AT KC (67-87) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Penny, Mendoza set to square off

By Chris Vannini / MLB.com | 9/18/2011 7:50 PM ET

It has seemed all season that Brad Penny has been unable to find a rhythm.

Although the Tigers have clinched the American League Central division, they are still fighting for home field in the AL Divisional Series. A strong start from Penny on Tuesday would get them one step closer, as the Tigers and Royals begin a two-game series.

"You want to get everything worked out before the playoffs start," Penny said. "You still got to go out there and get outs. Everybody's going to maintain what they do and carry it on through."

It is unclear if Penny will be in the rotation for the playoffs, but it may not matter to him.

"I want to win, so whatever I can do to help the team win."

That's what he will try to do Tuesday.

Although the Tigers are 10-6 against the Royals this year, Detroit knows the talent the Royals have in their Minor Leagues and have been calling up in the second half."

"Those guys are hitting good," Penny said. "They've got a scrappy team. They can hit. [Eric Hosmer] is a [great] player. He is. He's killing everybody. And defensively, he's an all-around solid player."

Royals: Mendoza to make Royals debut
• Right-hander Luis Mendoza will make his Royals debut Tuesday, less than a week after celebrating the Pacific Coast League championship.

Mendoza has made 14 Major League starts, but those were in 2007 and '08 with the Texas Rangers. He was named PCL Pitcher of the Year this year after going 10-3 with a 1.85 ERA as a starter.

"We liked some changes he made in his delivery where he was more downhill. We really liked that and he went and continued it, I guess," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He's Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year. I'm anxious to see him."

• Reliever Greg Holland feels comfortable in the closer role he recently was moved into due to an injury to Joakim Soria -- who is dealing with a strained right hamstring. Holland picked up a save on Sept. 14 and earned a win on Sept. 16 after pitching the ninth inning.

"For me, the seventh or eighth inning is no different than the ninth," Holland said. "There's been a lot of times when you come into the seventh in a one-run game with two guys on and you don't feel pressure, but the game can sometimes be on the line more in the seventh inning."

Tigers: Guillen suffers calf injury
• Second baseman Carlos Guillen left Sunday's game in Oakland after coming up limping following a groundout that didn't involve him. Guillen missed the first half of the season recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee. He also spent time on the disabled list in August with right wrist soreness.

• Tigers manager Jim Leyland is hoping to use reliever Al Alburquerque in Kansas City. Alburquerque has made three appearances this month, and is dealing with a quad issue.

"I'm hoping that he's able to pitch in Kansas City," Leyland said before Sunday's game against the A's. "At some point you've got to get out there. You can't keep saying, 'Well, we've got time, we've got time.' We don't have that much time in his situation."

Worth noting
• The Tigers have won 24 of their last 30 games.

• The Tigers are 10-6 against the Royals this season, including a 5-2 record in Kansas City.

• The Royals had won seven straight games before a loss Sunday.

Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (10-10, 5.07 ERA)

Penny will look to rebound from his fourth straight subpar outing, as he continues to battle for his spot in the Tigers' playoff rotation. He's 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA in his last four outings.


Royals: RHP Luis Mendoza (0-0, -.-- ERA)

After being Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year and helping Omaha win the PCL title, Mendoza has been summoned to Kansas City to step into an open spot caused when both Luke Hochevar and Jeff Francis were shut down due to innings pitched.


Game Information



INJURY UPDATE:

• OF Brennan Boesch (right thumb surgery, 15-day disabled list on September 9).
• 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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• Monday, September 19:
OFF DAY

• Tuesday, September 20:
Tigers (RHP Brad Penny (10-10, 5.07 ERA)) AT
Royals (RHP Luis Mendoza (0-0, -.-- ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Wednesday, September 21:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (14-9, 4.39 ERA)) AT
Royals (RHP Felipe Paulino (3-6, 4.10 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUP:

TIGERS
Austin Jackson, CF
Don Kelly, 3B
Delmon Young, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Alex Avila, C
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Andy Dirks, RF
Ramon Santiago, 2B

P: Brad Penny


ROYALS
Alex Gordon, LF
Melky Cabrera, CF
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Mitch Maier, DH
Salvador Perez, C
Alcides Escobar, SS

P: Luis Mendoza

DET - Top 1st
B:3 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young reaches on fielding error by third baseman Mike Moustakas.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Delmon Young to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 1st
B:3 S:2 O:0
Alex Gordon homers (23) on a fly ball to center field.
KC 1 - 0

B:2 S:1 O:0
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Eric Hosmer singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andy Dirks. Melky Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jeff Francoeur lines into unassisted double play, first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Eric Hosmer doubled off 1st.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Mike Moustakas grounds out, pitcher Brad Penny to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Andy Dirks out swinging.

KC - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Johnny Giavotella grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Mitch Maier out swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Alcides Escobar flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

KC 1 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:0 S:1 O:3
With Delmon Young batting, Austin Jackson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Salvador Perez to second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

KC - Bot 3rd
Dropped foul pop error by left fielder Delmon Young.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1
Melky Cabrera grounds out, pitcher Brad Penny to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alex Gordon to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Eric Hosmer singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Alex Gordon to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Jeff Francoeur grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Eric Hosmer out at 2nd.

KC 1 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez hit by pitch.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Alex Avila walks. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

KC - Bot 4th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Mike Moustakas grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Johnny Giavotella singles on a ground ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Mitch Maier walks. Johnny Giavotella to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Johnny Giavotella scores. Mitch Maier to 2nd.
KC 2 - 0

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alcides Escobar singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Delmon Young. Mitch Maier scores. Salvador Perez to 2nd.
KC 3 - 0

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Melky Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Salvador Perez scores. Alcides Escobar to 2nd.
KC 4 - 0

B:0 S:1 O:2
Eric Hosmer homers (18) on a fly ball to left field. Alcides Escobar scores. Melky Cabrera scores.
KC 7 - 0

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

KC 7 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks doubles (12) on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago grounds out, first baseman Eric Hosmer to pitcher Luis Mendoza. Andy Dirks to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson doubles (22) on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Andy Dirks scores.
KC 7 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:2
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young walks.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Mike Moustakas to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

KC - Bot 5th
Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Brad Penny.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Mike Moustakas grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Johnny Giavotella grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Mitch Maier walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Salvador Perez homers (2) on a fly ball to right center field. Mitch Maier scores.
KC 9 - 1

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Alcides Escobar flies out to right fielder Andy Dirks.

KC 9 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Alex Avila walks. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Omir Santos replaces Alex Avila.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds into double play, third baseman Mike Moustakas to second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Victor Martinez to 3rd. Omir Santos out at 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

KC - Bot 6th
Defensive switch from third base to first base for Don Kelly.

Defensive Substitution: Danny Worth replaces first baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 4th, playing third base.

Omir Santos remains in the game as the catcher.

Pitcher Change: David Pauley replaces Duane Below.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Alex Gordon grounds out softly, pitcher David Pauley to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Melky Cabrera grounds out, pitcher David Pauley to first baseman Don Kelly.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Eric Hosmer singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jeff Francoeur grounds into a force out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Eric Hosmer out at 2nd.

KC 9 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
B:1 S:0 O:0
Ramon Santiago reaches on fielding error by second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out softly, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Gordon. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Delmon Young out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Ramon Santiago scores.
KC 9 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:3
Danny Worth flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

KC - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Daniel Schlereth replaces David Pauley.

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

B:2 S:3 O:1
Johnny Giavotella called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:2
Mitch Maier called out on .

B:4 S:1 O:2
Salvador Perez walks. Mike Moustakas to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Alcides Escobar walks. Mike Moustakas to 3rd. Salvador Perez to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Gordon grounds out to first baseman Don Kelly.

KC 9 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Blake Wood replaces Luis Mendoza.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Will Rhymes replaces Victor Martinez.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Will Rhymes singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Gordon.

B:2 S:1 O:0
Omir Santos singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Will Rhymes to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks grounds into double play, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Omir Santos out at 2nd.

KC - Bot 8th
Will Rhymes remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Pitcher Change: Luis Marte replaces Daniel Schlereth.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Melky Cabrera doubles (42) on a fly ball to right fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Eric Hosmer singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andy Dirks. Melky Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Jeff Francoeur singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Melky Cabrera scores. Eric Hosmer to 2nd.
KC 10 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Mike Moustakas pops out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Johnny Giavotella grounds into double play, third baseman Danny Worth to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Don Kelly. Jeff Francoeur out at 2nd.

KC 10 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
B:1 S:0 O:0
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

With Austin Jackson batting, wild pitch by Blake Wood, Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson out swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly grounds out to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.