Friday, August 28 Comerica Park | 7:05 PM ET
TB Matt Garza, RHP (7-8, 3.74) @ DET 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: Porcello was 1-0 with a 2.21 ERA over 20 1/3 innings in four August starts entering Sunday's outing in Oakland. That's where his luck changed. The 20-year-old rookie 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. "Take those [home runs] away," Porcello said, "and it's a different game." The rookie hasn't faced Tampa Bay this season


Saturday, August 29 Comerica Park | 4:05 PM
David Price @ Nate Robertson
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: Nate Robertson is being recalled and filling in for Rick Porcello who is taking Galarraga's spot on Friday night. Robertson threw six shutout innings in his latest rehab start with zero walks!



Sunday, August 30 Comerica Park | 1:05 PM ET
TB To be announced @ DET Justin Verlander, RHP (14-7, 3.38)

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.

The bottom of the barrel picked up the Tigers big time. The 7-9 hitters combined for five RBIs and led the Tags to a 6-2 Friday night victory.

Paced by a five run fourth, Detroit got the best of Matt Garza who historically has struggled against the Tigers (0-4, 5.85 ERA). The bottom of the order, which is hitting approximately a combined .235, was 5-11 with 5 RBIs yesterday. Adam Everett had a big 2-run double, Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge each had two hits and three RBIs combined.

On the Hill, Rick Porcello picked up his 11th win as he went a stellar 5.2 IP, allowing just one earned run on 4 hits. He struck out 5.

Detroit remains 4.5 games up in the Central Division.

Nate Robertson brings gum time back today as he takes the bump as a starter for the first time since nearly a year ago.

Given how Nate Robertson has pitched for the Tigers in the past couple years and David Price's futility on the road thus far in his short career, you probably would have guessed this one was going to be a slug fest. That wasn't the case though, as both pitchers threw very well and found themselves in the middle of a pitchers duel -- one the Ray found themselves on the better end when it was all said and done by a score of 3-1.

It was the Tigers defensive miscues that cost them today's game as two of the three runs they allowed were unearned (one run scored after a third strike passed ball that would have ended the inning and the other came in the 9th by Everett).

Detroit only managed six hits in the game as Price was spectacular, mixing speeds with his fastball very nicely all game long. Magglio's two out single in the 8th was all the Tigers could muster. They were 1-4 with RISP, their biggest opportunity coming in the third with runners on 2nd and 3rd with Granderson up with one out, but he struck out as he seems to do so often in big spots like that.

Price improved to 7-6 on the year as he went 7.1 innings, scattered 5 hits, and allowed 1 ER. He walked just one and struck out five.

Nate Robertson went 4 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, and struck out 4.

Detroit will have to wait for the result of the Twins game to see if this game will mean anything in the standings -- they lead by 4 games with the Twins beginning their game right now.

Justin Verlander will take the ball tomorrow for a 1 PM EST start.

Today just wasn't the Tigers day. And it all started with the awful Jarrod Washburn. He gave up 6 first inning runs and another two home runs in his 5.2 innings of work to not help the Tigers cause one bit. Washburn has now given up 11 HR in 37 innings with the Tigers -- he gave up 11 all year with the Mariners.

Detroit wound up fighting back to make it somewhat of a game in the 9th but it was too little too late as they fell by a final score of 11-7.

Bartlett and Pena each homered and three hits for the Rays. Pena had 4 RBIs. Carlos Guillen had 4 RBIs for the Tigers including two dingers. Curtis Granderson continues to struggle as he was 0-5.

Ryan Perry relieved Washburn in the 6th but couldn't stop the bleeding. He gave up 3 ER on 5 hits in his 2.1 innings of work.

Detroit takes on Cleveland tomorrow night with Edwin Jackson on the hill.