Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan
Friday, July 10 at 7:05 PM ET
Cliff Lee, LHP (4-8, 3.45)
vs.
Edwin Jackson, RHP (6-4, 2.59)
Scouting Report:
Indians: In his last start, Lee made good on one part of his mantra -- the part about keeping his team in the game. But he didn't come through on the other part -- the one about going deep into the game. He allowed three runs on eight hits with four walks and three strikeouts in six innings, and he needed 112 pitches to do so. Lee's most damaging inning was a 30-pitch fifth. Lee has a 2.40 ERA in two starts against the Tigers this season, but he's 0-2.
Tigers: Jackson will make his final start before his first All-Star Game looking to end a personal five-game winless streak that has been more a matter of bad support than bad pitching, a season-long issue many players recognized when they voted him onto the AL's All-Star squad. All five games have been low-scoring battles and one-run decisions, four of them by a 4-3 score. He struck out nine Minnesota Twins over 6 1/3 innings last Saturday at the Metrodome yet took a no-decision when Detroit's bullpen couldn't hold onto the lead. His lone appearance against Cleveland this season involved seven scoreless innings and seven strikeouts in a 4-0 win on May 9 at Progressive Field.
Saturday, July 11 at 7:05 PM ET
Carl Pavano, RHP (7-7, 5.36)
vs.
Armando Galarraga, RHP (5-7, 5.03)
Scouting Report:
Indians: Pavano was solid for the second straight start against the A's on Saturday. He allowed just two runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. He has righted himself after some mechanical issues led to three consecutive subpar starts, and he appears to have gotten past the shoulder soreness that bothered him in mid-June. Pavano allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings to get a win over the Tigers on May 1.
Tigers: Galarraga looks close to regaining the form that allowed him to hold down opposing hitters so well in April before his precision pitches and confidence seemingly deserted him. He left his last start on top of a pitching duel after seven innings of one-run ball Monday against Kansas City before Detroit's bullpen gave up the lead twice, but the importance was his effectiveness, scattering five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. His slider looked markedly better than in many of his outings this year, but more importantly, he had the command to pound the strike zone. He'll try to build off that against a Cleveland club he beat three times last year before giving up five runs in as many innings two months ago at Comerica Park.
Sunday, July 12 at 1:05 PM ET
Tomo Ohka, RHP (0-2, 5.65)
vs
Justin Verlander, RHP (9-4, 3.59)
Scouting Report:
Indians: With Jeremy Sowers optioned back to Triple-A Columbus, the Indians are expected to turn to Ohka for the start in the first-half finale. The veteran Ohka has bounced back and forth between the Tribe's rotation and bullpen since his May 28 callup from Columbus. He is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts and 0-0 with a 4.63 ERA in three relief appearances.
Tigers: Verlander's final outing before the All-Star break shouldn't affect his availability for the Midsummer Classic two days later, but it gives him a chance to have 10 wins by the break for the third time in his four Major League seasons. Two of those wins were back-to-back victories over the Indians in early May, combining for 16 innings of one-run ball on four hits with 22 strikeouts. His last win Tuesday at Kansas City was nearly a short one with 55 pitches through two innings, but he recovered to retire 10 straight Royals, including six strikeouts in an eight-batter span, to salvage a quality start with 11 strikeouts over six innings.
