Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 4/9/14: Game Time, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

Apr 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder

Austin Jackson

(14) is met by third baseman

Andrew Romine

(27) after a solo home run in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers hope to salvage a split in this awkward mid-week two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They might have to do it without regular right fielder Torii Hunter in the starting lineup after he tweaked his knee on Tuesday night.

Detroit Tigers (4-2) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (6-3) — 10:10 PM ET

Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles, CA
TV: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB.com
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Weather: 72 degrees

When We Last Met

Tuesday’s series opener between the Tigers and Dodgers ended in the same unfortunate way that most west coast games seemingly do: with extra innings and bullpen heartache. After tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the ninth and forcing extra innings, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Coke couldn’t keep Los Angeles in the bottom of the tenth inning.

But blaming everything on the bullpen isn’t entirely fair. The offense, despite getting a second-inning home run from Austin Jackson, could only muster two runs on five hits across the ten-inning affair. That’s not going to cut it most days, even when Max Scherzer delivers an excellent performance (8 IP, 8 SO, 1 BB, 1 HR, 2 ER).

Injuries

Detroit:

Torii Hunter–day-to-day (knee)
Andy Dirks–15-day DL
Bruce Rondon–60-day DL
Jose Iglesias–60-day DL

Los Angeles:

Yasiel Puig–day-to-day
Alex Guerrero–day-to-day
A.J. Ellis–15 day DL
Chad Billingsley–15-day DL
Josh Beckett–15-day DL (expected to be activated)
Brian Wilson–15-day DL
Clayton Kershaw–15-day DL
Onelki Garcia–60-day DL

Pitching Matchup

Anibal Sanchez struck out three batters, walked three batters, and allowed two runs to score in four innings in his first start before a rain delay forced him to exit the game early. Sanchez had battled some shoulder soreness late in spring camp, so the team appears to be taking it easy with him in the early going. We could again see Drew Smyly come out of the bullpen for extended relief work since he won’t be needed as a starter for more than five days yet.

Josh Beckett is expected to be activated from the DL ahead of the game to make his first start of the season. Beckett was limited to 53 innings last season (eight starts) and finished with a 5.19 ERA (4.66 FIP / 3.81 xFIP).

Tigers Lineup

Victor Martinez will make his first start behind the plate today with the team not having the luxury of the DH spot. Miguel Cabrera will shift back to first base and Nick Castellanos resumes his duties at third.

Rajai Davis, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, C
Austin Jackson, CF
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Tyler Collins, RF
Alex Gonzalez, SS
Anibal Sanchez, P

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