New York @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( May 12, 2010 ) NY Yankees 8, Detroit 0

One start after the rain cost him a victory, CC Sabathia takes the mound today against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Sabathia was one out away from qualifying for his fifth win of the season in Boston last Saturday. He had a 6-3 lead and a 2-2 count on Victor Martinez when the game was stopped because of rain. Sabathia didn't return after a delay of just over an hour so what would have been an easy win - the Yankees eventually rolled to a 14-3 rout - ended up in a no-decision.

The big left-hander did allow a season-high two home runs against the Sox. One came to Martinez, his former batterymate in Cleveland. Darnell McDonald hit the other.

Sabathia has given the Yankees what a top of the rotation starter should - wins and innings. He has pitched into the eighth inning four times in seven starts.

Sabathia's shortest start, other than his rain-abbreviated outing, was 5 1/3 innings in the season opener, also against Boston. He has allowed 35 hits in 47 1/3 innings and has held opponents to a .215 average. New York has won five times with Sabathia on the hill.

From his days when he pitched for Cleveland in the American League Central, Sabathia knows his way around the Tigers' lineup. He's made 28 career starts against Detroit and is 14-10 with a 4.50 ERA so there will be no surprises from either side.

Justin Verlander is finally looking like the pitcher who went 19-9 for the Tigers last season. After getting mixed results in his first four starts, in which he lasted only five innings three times, the right-hander has turned it around in his last three outings. Verlander is 2-0 and has allowed four earned runs in 20 innings. He's struck out 23, given up 11 hits and hasn't allowed a home run.

Verlander picked up his third win last Saturday against the Indians, allowing three runs and striking out nine in six innings.

Verlander was 1-1 in two starts against the Yankees last season.

The Tigers have won two of the first three in the series. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is experiencing a rare slump going into the finale. He's in a 4-for-39 skid and was hitless in eight at-bats in Wednesday's day-night doubleheader. Jeter, who was the designated hitter Wednesday night, is a career .400 hitter (6-for-15) with three strikeouts against Verlander.