Tigers Look to Scherzer to Take Series Tonight

Beginning with tomorrow’s matinee at Kansas City, the Tigers will play seven consecutive day game. That means that if you have a day job, like me, tonight will present your final opportunity to catch the Tigers on TV for awhile. But even then, you might not get to see much of the game.

Due to the fact that both the Pistons and RedWings are in action this evening and that both clubs also have contracts with FSN-Detroit, the Tigers game will be joined in progress following the Wings game, which should happen roughly 10 pm EDT. FSN will then re-air the game, in its entirety, starting at midnight eastern.

So if you were looking forward to seeing the debut of right hander Max Scherzer, and his crazy eyes, you likely will have to wait until the re-broadcast to do so, as the game will already be two hours old by the time we join the feed. Until then, we’ll have Dan Dickerson and Jim Price to describe the action to us.

Scherzer will make his second career start at Kauffman stadium tonight, having beaten the Royals there last season while with the Diamondbacks. In a June 17 start last year, Scherzer out-dueled Zack Greinke in a 12-6 win. Scherzer allowed nine hits over six frames, but just two runs. Of those nine hits allowed, seven were singles. He walked three and stuck out five. Far from a dominant effort, but good enough to beat a Royals team that saw each of the five pitchers they used that day get tagged for at least one run. Greinke allowed six runs (four earned) over 6.2 innings.

With Gil Meche on the disabled list, Kansas City will turn to Luke Hochevar to make the start tonight. Hochevar has an career ERA of 6.87 against Detroit and a 1-2 record in four appearances (three starts). In 2009, Hochevar made one start versus Detroit in which he was roughed up to the tune of 12 hits and six runs in just four innings. That game, August 15 at Comerica Park, was a 10-3 Tigers win. Hochevar allowed home runs to Ramon Santiago and Carlos Guillen, both of whom will be in the lineup again tonight.

The last time that Hochevar faced the Tigers in Kauffman Stadium came back on July 21, 2008. The results weren’t much different then. The Tigers hung 19 runs on the Kansas City staff that day, scoring 10 in the eighth inning. Hochevar took the loss by allowing seven earned on eight hits in five innings.

Among the current Tigers to have faced Hochevar, only Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn have failed to hit him, going a combined 0 for 5. Look for Miguel Cabrera to have a big game this evening, he has an alarming eight hits in nine career at bats versus the KC hurler. Carlos Guillen is 4 for 10 career against him, including a home run.

No Royal has faced Scherzer more than four times, but Jose Guillen and Mitch Maier have had success, going a combined 5 for 6 with a double and two ribbies.