GDT34: 5/12/14 - DET (21-12) AT BAL (20-15) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (5-1, 3.49 ERA)

It's not just the 5-1 record or 3.49 ERA that impress, but the pitching behind it. Porcello owns a ratio of 1.4 walks per nine innings that ranks among the best in the American League, as does his .277 on-base percentage allowed.



Orioles: RHP Bud Norris (2-2, 3.82 ERA)

Norris went 5 2/3 innings and held the Rays to two runs on three hits in the no-decision. The righty struck out five and walked four.





Porcello, Norris set to square off again in opener
Tigers take on Orioles to start three-game series in Baltimore

By Matt Slovin / MLB.com | 5/11/2014 5:49 PM ET

Rick Porcello's start to the season, the best opening month and a half of his career, began against the Orioles.

Baltimore will get another crack at the Detroit right-hander on Monday at Camden Yards for the start of a three-game set. The Orioles dropped two of three to the Tigers when they met at Comerica Park in the second series of the season.

Just like the April 5 meeting, Porcello will be opposed by Bud Norris, who would rather forget that game. Norris allowed nine hits and five runs in five innings of work.

"Everyone knows what this team can do," Norris said after the loss. "You make a mistake against those guys, and you pay for it."

Porcello has been instrumental in the Detroit rotation's status as the best in the American League. He's tied with reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for the team lead with five wins. Porcello will have his hands full, though, with Baltimore slugger Chris Davis.

Davis returned to the lineup Sunday after a strained left oblique sidelined him for 15 days.

"I don't have any pain or discomfort," Davis said Sunday. "I don't have any stiffness, which I was kind of wondering whether I was going to be tight or stiff or anything like that."

Davis said the team's performance made it easier for him to be away for a couple of weeks. Both the Tigers and the Orioles enter the series in first place in their respective divisions.

Tigers: Rotation key to recent success
Manager Brad Ausmus had to think long and hard about when the last time one of his starting pitchers didn't do, at the very least, an adequate job.

And his answer showed just how strong the rotation has been over this recent stretch.

"The last bad start was when Anibal Sanchez had to come out of the game in the third [because of an injury]," Ausmus said before Sunday's game, referring to Sanchez's injury on April 26.

Detroit starters lead the AL with a 2.81 ERA entering play Sunday. Opponents were hitting just .227 against the rotation.

Orioles: Wieters heads to DL
The Orioles got a boost of good news in the return of Davis on Sunday, but they lost All-Star catcher Matt Wieters to the disabled list with no certainty on his return.

Wieters has been limited to designated hitter duty due to right elbow discomfort, and he will now get a few weeks of rest before the club re-evaluates and determines the next step.

"We'll take a two or three week period to see if we can get it managed and then see if he can catch the rest of the year. Or if he's still having problems with it at the six-week mark we will have to think about something else," manager Buck Showalter said of Wieters, who had his elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday. "That's as frank as I can be about it. That's where we are with it."

The organization is still hoping Wieters can avoid surgery with rest, with both the team's doctors and Andrews concurring that surgery isn't inevitable but is a possibility if the discomfort can't be managed with rest and treatment.

Worth noting
• Detroit's Austin Jackson is riding a nine-game hitting streak after an RBI single Sunday.

• Adam Jones picked up his 500th career RBI at Camden Yards on Sunday.

Matt Slovin is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• Dirks, Andy (LF) (Recovering from March 2014 back surgery, on the 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Hanrahan, Joel (P) (Recovery from 2013 Tommy John surgery, Placed on 15-day DL on May 2, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Iglesias, Jose (SS) (Stress fractures in both shins, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly late 2014)

• Putkonen, Luke (P) (Right elbow inflammation, Placed on 15-day DL on April 21, retroactive to April 19, Due Back: Possibly week of May 5)

• Rondon, Bruce (P) (Tommy John surgery-Right elbow, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: 2015)

• Sanchez, Anibal (P) (lacerated right middle finger, Placed on 15-day DL on April 26, Due Back: Possibly mid-May)



On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
•  SCOREBOARD
•  Official Press Pass game notes


On television

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• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

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• XM Channel Schedule





• Tuesday, May 13:
TIGERS: (LHP Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.73 ERA))
7:05p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


• Wednesday, May 14:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (4-2, 2.67 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (LHP Wei-Yin Chen (4-2, 3.95 ERA))
12:35p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


• Thursday, May 15: OFF DAY

Fri, 5/16 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sat, 5/17 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sun, 5/18 at Red Sox 8:05p ESPN, FM 97.1

Mon, 5/19 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, ESPN, FM 97.1
Tue, 5/20 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, FM 97.1
Wed, 5/21 at Indians 12:05p FS-D, FM 97.1

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers off Bud Norris)

   Ian Kinsler, 2B (1-for-5, walk)
   Torii Hunter, RF (3-for-9, 2 doubles, HR, 2 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 1B (2-for-9, 2 doubles, 3 K’s)
   Victor Martinez, DH (2-for-9, HR)
   Austin Jackson, CF (2-for-3)
   Nick Castellanos, 3B
   Alex Avila, C (0-for-8, 3 K’s)
   Andrew Romine, SS
   Rajai Davis, LF (1-for-4, K)

P: Rick Porcello

ORIOLES (career numbers against Porcello)

   Nick Markakis, RF (9-for-21, double, HR, 3 walks, K)
   Manny Machado, 3B (2-for-7, walk, K)
   Adam Jones, CF (3-for-21, 6 K’s)
   Chris Davis, 1B (5-for-15, 3 HR, 5 K’s)
   Nelson Cruz, LF (4-for-23, 6 K’s)
   J.J. Hardy, SS (7-for-17, double, 4 K’s)
   Steve Clevinger, C (2-for-3, double)
   Delmon Young, DH (8-for-22, 2 doubles, HR, walk, 3 K’s)
   Jonathan Schoop, 2B (0-for-2, K)

P: Bud Norris

Top 9

• 1. Victor Martinez called out on strikes.
  
• 2. Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop J. Hardy to first baseman Chris Davis.
  
• 3. Nick Castellanos called out on strikes.
  

Bottom 9

• Pitching Change: Joe Nathan replaces Al Alburquerque.
  
• 1. Nelson Cruz flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.
  
• 2. J. Hardy grounds out, shortstop Andrew Romine to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
  
• 3. Steve Clevenger flies out to left fielder Rajai Davis.
  

TIGERS WIN 4-1

BOX SCORE


W: Porcello (6-1)
L: Norris (2-3)
SV: Nathan (8)