Glenn
09-11-2007, 09:09 AM
Series at a Glance
Texas at Detroit
Tue, Sep 11 - 1:05 pm EDT
V. Padilla vs. C. Durbin
Texas at Detroit
Tue, Sep 11 - 7:05 pm EDT
B. McCarthy vs. J. Jurrjens
Texas at Detroit
Wed, Sep 12 - 7:05 pm EDT
E. Vólquez vs. J. Verlander
Texas (68-74) at Detroit (78-66)
By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
It's unusual when a team starts the same catcher in both games of a doubleheader.
With Ivan Rodriguez's status uncertain, however, rookie Mike Rabelo may get some extra playing time for the Detroit Tigers when they begin a three-game set against the Texas Rangers with a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.
Detroit (78-66) has won five of its last six games to pull within 3 1/2 games of New York for the AL wild card. But the Tigers are six games in back of the division-leading Indians with 18 games to play -- including a three-game set starting Sept. 17 in Cleveland.
"We're fighting our tails off in must-win situations," Detroit manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site. "Who can't get excited over that?"
The Tigers beat Toronto 5-4 in dramatic fashion Monday night, rallying for four runs with two outs in the ninth inning after losing Rodriguez to dizziness in the top of the third. Rabelo replaced him behind the plate and would likely start both games if Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star, can't play Tuesday.
Rabelo is hitting .258 with 14 RBIs in 46 games.
Magglio Ordonez was held out of the starting lineup for two games last week to rest a sore heel, and the Tigers managed just three runs during that stretch. On Monday, he drove in Placido Polanco to cap the game-winning rally.
Ordonez finished 4-for-5 to raise his major league-leading average to .359. He has helped Detroit average 7.5 runs in its last four games, and could use another strong day at the plate Tuesday with Chad Durbin (8-6, 4.57 ERA) and rookie Jair Jurrjens (1-1, 3.60) taking the mound.
Durbin, who start the opener, gave up four hits in five shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night, but did not get a decision as the Tigers won 3-2. The right-hander, though, lost each of his previous three starts, posting a 7.90 ERA in that span.
Durbin's only career appearance against the Rangers was in relief on June 28, allowing one run and three hits in two innings of the Tigers' 5-2 win.
Jurrjens will be activated from the 15-day disabled list to take the mound in the nightcap and make his first start since leaving against the Yankees on Aug. 26 with shoulder inflammation. The right-hander left after just 1 1-3 innings, and the Tigers won 5-4.
This will be Jurrjens' first appearance against Texas.
The Rangers, winners of five straight and 12 of 14, will counter with Vicente Padilla (5-9, 6.01) in the opener, followed by Brandon McCarthy (5-8, 4.79).
Padilla has been alternating strong starts with poor performances over the past month. The right-hander allowed two hits while striking out five in six shutout innings to beat Kansas City 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Padilla is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers.
McCarthy will come off the DL to make his first start since Aug. 10. He has been sidelined since Aug. 15 with a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade.
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA in his last three starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA in two starts and seven relief appearances lifetime against Detroit.
Texas has enjoyed strong pitching during its current run, allowing two earned runs in three straight games before a 12-9 win over Oakland on Sunday.
The Rangers (68-74) have won two straight and four of five on the road, where they are just 26-42 for the season.
"We just want to take care of business," said Texas' Sammy Sosa, who hit his 607th career homer in the win and knocked in four on Sunday. "We got a good chemistry here around the clubhouse. We need to stay focused."
Detroit and Texas has each won two of three games on the road in this season's series.
Texas at Detroit
Tue, Sep 11 - 1:05 pm EDT
V. Padilla vs. C. Durbin
Texas at Detroit
Tue, Sep 11 - 7:05 pm EDT
B. McCarthy vs. J. Jurrjens
Texas at Detroit
Wed, Sep 12 - 7:05 pm EDT
E. Vólquez vs. J. Verlander
Texas (68-74) at Detroit (78-66)
By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
It's unusual when a team starts the same catcher in both games of a doubleheader.
With Ivan Rodriguez's status uncertain, however, rookie Mike Rabelo may get some extra playing time for the Detroit Tigers when they begin a three-game set against the Texas Rangers with a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.
Detroit (78-66) has won five of its last six games to pull within 3 1/2 games of New York for the AL wild card. But the Tigers are six games in back of the division-leading Indians with 18 games to play -- including a three-game set starting Sept. 17 in Cleveland.
"We're fighting our tails off in must-win situations," Detroit manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site. "Who can't get excited over that?"
The Tigers beat Toronto 5-4 in dramatic fashion Monday night, rallying for four runs with two outs in the ninth inning after losing Rodriguez to dizziness in the top of the third. Rabelo replaced him behind the plate and would likely start both games if Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star, can't play Tuesday.
Rabelo is hitting .258 with 14 RBIs in 46 games.
Magglio Ordonez was held out of the starting lineup for two games last week to rest a sore heel, and the Tigers managed just three runs during that stretch. On Monday, he drove in Placido Polanco to cap the game-winning rally.
Ordonez finished 4-for-5 to raise his major league-leading average to .359. He has helped Detroit average 7.5 runs in its last four games, and could use another strong day at the plate Tuesday with Chad Durbin (8-6, 4.57 ERA) and rookie Jair Jurrjens (1-1, 3.60) taking the mound.
Durbin, who start the opener, gave up four hits in five shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night, but did not get a decision as the Tigers won 3-2. The right-hander, though, lost each of his previous three starts, posting a 7.90 ERA in that span.
Durbin's only career appearance against the Rangers was in relief on June 28, allowing one run and three hits in two innings of the Tigers' 5-2 win.
Jurrjens will be activated from the 15-day disabled list to take the mound in the nightcap and make his first start since leaving against the Yankees on Aug. 26 with shoulder inflammation. The right-hander left after just 1 1-3 innings, and the Tigers won 5-4.
This will be Jurrjens' first appearance against Texas.
The Rangers, winners of five straight and 12 of 14, will counter with Vicente Padilla (5-9, 6.01) in the opener, followed by Brandon McCarthy (5-8, 4.79).
Padilla has been alternating strong starts with poor performances over the past month. The right-hander allowed two hits while striking out five in six shutout innings to beat Kansas City 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Padilla is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers.
McCarthy will come off the DL to make his first start since Aug. 10. He has been sidelined since Aug. 15 with a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade.
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA in his last three starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA in two starts and seven relief appearances lifetime against Detroit.
Texas has enjoyed strong pitching during its current run, allowing two earned runs in three straight games before a 12-9 win over Oakland on Sunday.
The Rangers (68-74) have won two straight and four of five on the road, where they are just 26-42 for the season.
"We just want to take care of business," said Texas' Sammy Sosa, who hit his 607th career homer in the win and knocked in four on Sunday. "We got a good chemistry here around the clubhouse. We need to stay focused."
Detroit and Texas has each won two of three games on the road in this season's series.