@ Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan
Friday, August 28 Comerica Park | 7:05 PM ET
Matt Garza, RHP (7-8, 3.74) Rays (69-57) @ Rick Porcello, RHP (10-8, 4.39) Tigers (67-59)
Scouting Report:
Rays: Garza had his good stuff last Friday night, when he got a no-decision against the Rangers at Tropicana Field. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits and a home run in seven innings. Garza is considered by most to have the best stuff on the staff, his main obstacle has been finding consistency. Garza is 0-3 with a 4.94 ERA in five career starts against the Tigers; he is 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in two career starts at Comerica Park.
Tigers: The Tigers have taken every caution to give their 20-year-old rookie hurler an extra day's rest here and there , watch his pitch count and skip his spot out of the All-Star break to limit his innings. Now, he actually gets to move up a day, starting on his regular four days of rest to take the spot of injured Armando Galarraga. He gave up a pair of home runs -- a three-run drive and a solo shot -- as he allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings to take a loss in his last start last Sunday at Oakland.
Saturday, August 29 Comerica Park | 4:05 PM ET
David Price, LHP (6-6, 4.93) Rays (69-57) @ Nate Robertson, LHP (1-0, 7.71) Tigers (67-59)
Scouting Report:
Rays: For the second straight start, Price battled a high pitch count but was effective. Despite picking up the loss against the Rangers on Sunday, the 23-year-old left-hander gave up just three runs in seven innings, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out four. Price's pitch count was at 94 after the fifth, but he was able to give his team two more innings and finished throwing 114 pitches -- 72 of which were strikes. The only two runs charged to him came on balls that barely snuck through the infield -- one a two-run single on a slow roller down the first-base line, and the other a chopper that bounced awkwardly high at third base. Price, who has pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings in his career against the Tigers, is 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA at home compared to a 0-4 with an 8.07 ERA on the road.
Tigers: Robertson will end his rehab stint at Triple-A Toledo and his two-month stay on the disabled list to make his first start of the season, taking the place of injured Armando Galarraga. The veteran left-hander made five rehab starts with the Mud Hens, going 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA, but it was his last two starts that gave organizational officials belief he was ready. His fastball hit 91 mph both times, and his slider had enough bite to help rack up nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start Tuesday. He has done well enough that there's genuine intrigue whether his surgery two months ago to remove tissue masses from his elbow freed up his arm to regain some of his old form.
Sunday, August 30 Comerica Park | 1:05 PM ET
To be announced Rays (69-57) @ Justin Verlander, RHP (14-7, 3.38) Tigers (67-59)
Scouting Report:
Tigers: Verlander will make his first start since his much-replayed argument with catcher Gerald Laird in the visiting dugout at Angel Stadium following a four-run sixth inning that saw him knocked out of the game. He got the win anyway, considering he had a 10-run lead entering the inning, but manager Jim Leyland called it a lesson for his young ace on how to approach a game in which he's comfortably ahead. Verlander beat the Rays in his only meeting with the eventual AL champs last year in his season finale.
Monday, August 31 Comerica Park | 1:05 PM ET
James Shields, RHP (8-10, 3.81) Rays (69-57) @ Jarrod Washburn, LHP (9-7, 3.23) Tigers (67-59)
Scouting Report:
Rays: Shields received some welcome run support Tuesday night in his start against the Blue Jays. The Rays' No. 1 starter coasted en route to his eighth win of the season after the offense scored six runs in the first three innings. Shields can be counted on to give the team at least six innings on most occasions and has appeared more effective recently since finding his changeup. Shields is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers; he is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two career starts at Comerica Park.
Tigers: After finally making a start on the road for the Tigers and earning his first victory in a Detroit uniform, Washburn returns to Comerica Park, where he has picked up a loss and three no-decisions. His last start, at Angel Stadium, saw him recover from a three-run homer in the second inning to salvage a quality start with six innings of work. Washburn is 12-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 career starts against the Rays, more wins by far than against any other opponent in Washburn's career.
