Cleveland @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( May 9, 2010 ) Detroit 4, Cleveland 7
The Detroit Tigers had a lousy holiday weekend, but the sight of the Cleveland Indians right now could cheer up any team.
The Tigers lost three of four to the Oakland Athletics and have now dropped seven of their last nine thanks to an inefficient offense. Detroit exploded for 10 runs in a victory Saturday, but otherwise have managed just 17 runs in their last seven losses.
That could change this week against the Indians, whose pitchers were mauled in the Bronx over the weekend for 37 runs in four games.
Jake Westbrook missed the New York Yankees onslaught, but still allowed five runs in seven innings in his start last week against the Chicago White Sox. Westbrook has allowed four homers in his last three starts (spanning 21 innings).
Westbrook hasn’t fared well against the Tigers throughout his career, lugging a 6.38 ERA into Tuesday 18 career starts, but the bullpen cost him a win April 11 in Detroit when the Tigers scored six runs in the final three innings.
The Indians have lost 11 of their last 14, but received a little good news over the weekend when David Huff pitched a bullpen session without issue. In his last start, Huff took an Alex Rodriguez line drive off his skull that ricocheted all the way into right field for a double. The Indians haven’t decided yet if he’ll take his turn on Thursday’s series finale against the Tigers.
The Tigers will counter Tuesday with Jeremy Bonderman, who pitched well last month, but received little support. Bonderman went 1-1 in May despite a 1.33 ERA in five starts. He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any outing since April 26 at the Texas Rangers.
He beat the Indians in his first start this season, allowing one run and one hit in five innings in a 4-2 win on April 10.
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera has been red-hot since missing four games to be with his wife for the birth of their second daughter. In the four-game series against Oakland following Isabella’s birth, Cabrera is 8-for-17 with four homers and eight RBIs.
Cabrera is quickly becoming a legitimate candidate for the Triple Crown – his .344 average, 14 homers and 48 RBIs are all among the league leaders. He is 6-for-15 this season against the Indians, who have lost five of six meetings to the Tigers this season.