@ Progressive Field
Game 1: Friday, July 31st, 7:05 PM ET.
Edwin Jackson, RHP (7-5, 2.59) Vs. Fausto Carmona, RHP (2-6, 7.42)
Tigers: Jackson has lasted seven innings in five of his last six outings and owns quality starts in his last seven, including seven innings of three-run ball against the White Sox last Saturday at Comerica Park. He earned a no-decision for his trouble, but considering it took a ninth-inning comeback to get him off the hook for what would've been a hard-luck loss, it could've been worse.
Indians: The Fausto Carmona Project is over, and the Indians have deemed him ready to return to the big leagues in the wake of the Cliff Lee trade. Carmona was a major disappointment for an Indians team that counted on him to be their No. 2 starter coming out of Spring Training. He was demoted to Class A ball in early June and slowly climbed his way up the Minor League ladder, going 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA in seven starts between Class A Lake County, Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. He walked seven and struck out 39 over 46 1/3 innings, which is a good sign that he maintained his delivery. The question will be if the big league stage causes his emotions to get amped up and his delivery to get back out of whack.
Game 2: Saturday, August 1st, 7:05 PM ET.
Rick Porcello, RHP (9-7, 4.62) Vs. Jeremy Sowers, LHP (3-7, 5.15)
Tigers: Though the Tigers could skip a starter with the off-day Thursday, manager Jim Leyland said that Porcello will stay on turn and start on an extra day's rest after struggling in each of his first two games out of the All-Star break. His five runs allowed in each outing, including over 5 1/3 innings in his last start Sunday night against the White Sox, have raised his ERA by nearly a half-run in that span. Though Leyland noted a slight drop in velocity, his bigger concern was a curveball that didn't look sharp. He beat the Indians at Progressive Field on May 10 with five innings of one-run ball, and the Tigers would no doubt love for him to find that form again.
Indians: Sowers provided what the coaching staff had wanted in his last outing Saturday against Seattle -- a strong finish. He has had the tendency to lose his effectiveness as he turns over the lineup. But he went seven innings, matching his season high, allowing no runs and four hits in a 10-3 victory. He allowed the fewest hits in any of his 11 starts. He said he was particularly pleased with getting out of trouble in the second, third and fourth innings without damage. He has a career 2-3 record against Detroit with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.
Game 3: Sunday, August 2nd, 1:05 PM ET.
Armando Galarraga, RHP (5-9, 4.84) Vs. Carl Pavano, RHP (8-8, 5.66)
Tigers: Galarraga gets to turn the calendar after a winless July, but the record doesn't indicate how well Galarraga has pitched for the past month. Detroit's mercurial right-hander allowed a 3.29 ERA in four July starts, scattering 21 hits over 27 1/3 innings with eight walks and 18 strikeouts. Three of those last four starts lasted at least seven innings, and the lone exception was a six-inning performance. He gave up four runs over seven innings Monday at Texas, but three of them came in a sixth inning that included a double-error RBI hit and a two-run, two-out double from Hank Blalock.
Indians: Pavano has given up 13 runs total against the Blue Jays and Angels in his last two starts. In Anaheim on Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Four of the hits were home runs -- all solo shots. Three of those blasts came in order in the second inning, off the bats of Juan Rivera, Kendry Morales and Mike Napoli. And this came after Pavano gave up four home runs in a loss to the Jays on July 22. Clearly, then, keeping the ball in the yard is an issue for the right-hander. Pavano is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in two starts against the Tigers this season.
