Detroit @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2010 ) Detroit 3, Cleveland 4
The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians will turn to a pair of promising right-handers in the nightcap of Saturday's day-night doubleheader at Progressive Field.
The Tigers are expected to recall Rick Porcello (4-7, 6.14) from the minors to make a spot start against Mitch Talbot (8-8, 3.99 ERA) and the Indians.
Porcello has enjoyed considerable success already against the Indians, posting a 4-0 mark with a 2.55 ERA in six career starts.
The hurler will be making his first appearance since June 19, when he permitted five runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Porcello will look to snap Detroit's modest two-game slide and help the team gain ground on the Chicago White Sox, who hold a one-game lead in the AL Central standings.
After spending a week atop the division, the Tigers fell out of first place on the eve of the All-Star break. They started the second half on a sour note with Friday's 8-2 loss to last-place Cleveland.
Detroit has also enjoyed considerable success against Cleveland, winning 20 of 27.
For his part, Talbot has struggled over the past month, losing four of his last five starts. The 26-year-old is 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season.
Talbot has permitted seven runs and 12 hits in his last 11 innings for the Indians, who reside firmly in the AL Central basement - a solid four games behind the Kansas City Royals.
In the opener, the Tigers will turn to 27-year-old right-hander Justin Verlander.
Verlander (11-5, 3.82 ERA) has won his last three starts and six of his last seven, most recently holding the Minnesota Twins to two runs over 5 1/3 innings July 9. But he has struggled against the Indians over the years - he's 9-10 with a 5.39 ERA in 21 career starts against them.
The Indians counter in the opener with 26-year-old right-hander Fausto Carmona, who is coming off a solid outing in which he held Tampa Bay to two runs over 6 2/3 innings to earn his eighth win.
Carmona (8-7, 3.64 ERA) has posted seven quality starts in his last eight outings.