Detroit Tigers (32-29) vs Cleveland Indians (28-32) — 4:08 PM ET
Comerica Park — Detroit, MI
TV: FSD
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)
Weather: 70 degrees, mostly cloudy
More from Motor City Bengals
- The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
- Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
- Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
- Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?
- Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene continues to impress with his performance
Game Preview
The Detroit Tigers are hosting their first division series in over a month as they face the Cleveland Indians for the first time since late April.
Cleveland is in last place in the AL Central, but they have a 14-9 record since May 19. During that same span, Detroit has nearly the opposite record at 9-13.
Detroit, however, has won four of its last five games and is 6-1 versus Cleveland this season.
When We Last Met
The Tigers continued their dominance over the Indians on Friday due to the play from two stars. Ace pitcher David Price was brilliant, throwing a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks, and Detroit won, 4-0.
The four runs all came from first baseman Miguel Cabrera. He hit a three-run blast to remember in the sixth and then drove in the last run on a double in the eighth.
In the seven games against the Indians this season, the Tigers have outscored them, 42-35.
Pitching Matchup
Right-hander Justin Verlander will make his long-awaited season debut on Saturday. He looked sharp in his last rehab start, pitching 5 2/3 frames and allowing just one unearned run. He struck out nine batters with his fastball topping out at 94 MPH.
The Indians will send right-handed starter Carlos Carrasco to the mound. He is 7-5 with a 4.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings this season.
Carrasco has been solid this season, but he didn’t pitch well in his last outing. The 28-year-old yielded five runs in four innings against the Orioles on Sunday.
Tigers Lineup
The lineup will be posted once released
Injuries
- Kyle Lobstein — 15-day DL
- Victor Martinez — 15-day DL
- Bruce Rondon — 15-day DL
- Alex Avila — 15-day DL
- Joe Nathan – Out for the Season
Next: Detroit Tigers Q&A: Six Questions About the Cleveland Indians