Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians Game 19 Preview, TV Coverage, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (12-6) vs Cleveland Indians (6-10) – 1:08 PM ET

Comerica Park – Detroit, MI

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 54 degrees, partly cloudy

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Game Preview

The Detroit Tigers will look for a victory on Sunday to run their record to 13-6, post a .500 home stand at 5-5 and win their fifth series in six tries to start the season. They will head out on an important 11-day, 10-game AL Central road trip with stops in Minnesota, Kansas City and Chicago.

When We Last Met

The Tigers were a bit fortunate that the flu bug bit Trevor Bauer before Saturday’s game. Bauer had been solid to start his season and is perfect against Detroit during his career, but was feeling too ill to give it a go. T.J. House was pressed into service and the Tigers continued their success against him that began in Cleveland two weeks ago. They also got yet another stellar outing from the surprising Alfredo Simon and a rare scoreless effort from the bullpen. Joakim Soria threw another perfect inning to pick up his sixth save in the 4-1 win.

Pitching Matchup

Kyle Lobstein (1-1, 3.27) starts his third game of the season. His first was somewhat rocky in Cleveland when he allowed these Indians to score three runs on eight hits over five innings of work, but the offense was hitting on all cylinders and gave him plenty of run support.

His his most recent start, the opposite was true. While Lobstein labored through the first two innings, allowing a run in the first inning, he was able to settle down and go six strong innings for the Tigers, allowing one run on three hits. He departed with a 1-0 deficit and the bullpen allowed Yankees batters to tee off, giving Kyle his first loss of the season, 5-2.

Unless the Indians decide to use Bauer, if he has recovered, the scheduled starter is Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 2.38). Through two+ starts Carrasco has allowed three runs on nine hits, striking out 18, included eight in his last game on Tuesday. That start, a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox was his first game back after being struck in the face with a line drive in the first inning of a game a week early, also against Chicago.

Carrasco has not fared well against the Tigers in his career, going 2-5 with a 6.86 ERA in 12 games (7 starts), though he was better in 2014 (1-1, 3.00) in six appearances with two starts.

Tigers Lineup

1. Rajai Davis-CF
2. Ian Kinsler-2B
3. Miguel Cabrera-1B
4. Victor Martinez-DH
5. J.D. Martinez-RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes-LF
7. Nick Castellanos-3B
8. James McCann-C
9. Jose Iglesias-SS

Injuries

Tigers

• Bruce Rondon — 15-day DL
• Justin Verlander — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season

Indians

• Nick Swisher — 15-day DL
• Zach Walters — 15-day DL
• Gavin Floyd — 60-day DL
• Josh Tomlin — 60-day DL
• Yan Gomes — 60-day DL

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