Detroit @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2013 ) Detroit 0, Kansas City 1

Justin Verlander makes his first start of the second half of the season Saturday, when he leads the Detroit Tigers into the second contest of their three-game series against the host Kansas City Royals. Verlander won 10 games before the All-Star break but was not always his dominant self, posting an ERA nearly a run higher than his 2012 mark.

The former American League MVP yielded just one hit in seven scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers in his last start before the break. Kansas City's Ervin Santana put forth a similar line Friday, tossing 7 1/3 sensational frames to lead the Royals to a 1-0 win in the series opener. It was Kansas City's fourth victory in its last five meetings with Detroit and pulled the club within seven games of the first-place Tigers in the AL Central.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit, Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (10-6, 3.50 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (8-7, 4.25)

Verlander left his masterful performance versus the Rangers with tightness in his quadriceps, but the injury was not considered serious and he will be pitching with five days of rest against a team he has dominated. He is 15-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 25 career starts against Kansas City. Verlander has thrown seven superb innings versus the Royals twice in 2013 and has a 2.32 ERA in 15 outings at Kansas City.

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the trade that brought Guthrie from Colorado to Kansas City. He has won 13 games for the Royals since then but suffered the loss in his last start before the All-Star break at Cleveland, which reached the veteran for five runs in seven innings. Guthrie has given up 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings over his last two home starts but notched the win after allowing two runs in 6 1/3 solid frames against Detroit at home on June 10.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals DH Billy Butler is 24-for-57 lifetime against Verlander.

2. The Tigers have alternated wins and losses over their last 10 games. They have not won or lost at least two in a row since posting a five-game winning streak from July 2-6.

3. Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera has gone hitless in consecutive games for the first time since he went 0-for-3 on June 12 and 14.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Royals 2