NewsLineup changes likely not permanent
Detroit (14-12) at Chicago (12-14), 8:11 p.m. ET
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
05/06/09 11:55 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Manager Jim Leyland shuffled the lineup and got nine runs out of his previously struggling offense with a group that included part-time outfielders Josh Anderson and Clete Thomas batting first and third, Curtis Granderson fifth and Magglio Ordonez sixth. What can Detroit do for an encore in what is now a one-game series in Chicago? Probably nothing quite that drastic. "This is one night, so I'm not going to get too excited about it," Leyland said on Tuesday. "But I liked the way it looked." For one, the Tigers will be facing a left-handed starter in White Sox ace Mark Buehrle. Anderson, a left-hander, was replaced by Ryan Raburn on Wednesday, and he likely will be back Thursday. Thomas, who also bats left-handed, will get a chance to follow up his three-hit performance, not to mention use his legs to create some offense. Ordonez, however, has a chance to break out of his struggles in a big way. Not only is Detroit's usual No. 3 hitter mired in an 0-for-8 slump since his single on Sunday, he didn't get the ball out of the infield in two games against the Twins. However, he's 15-for-28 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs lifetime against Buehrle, his former teammate.Ordonez also had more hits last year against the White Sox (23) than against any other club, earning him a .307 batting average with two homers and 12 RBIs vs. Chicago.
As much as Tuesday's energy created a spark, Leyland knows he needs Ordonez to create more at the plate. "We're not going to be able to win [this season] unless we get [Carlos] Guillen back healthy and producing and get Magglio going," Leyland said. "We won't win if we don't get that going." Rain halted the momentum created by Tuesday's 9-0 victory over the Twins, but Leyland still wants to see some of that energy in Thursday's game. "People don't realize how much speed affects the game," Leyland said. "When you get a guy over at first that can run, it affects us, because we're worried about holding him. The pitcher knows he can run. The catcher knows he might steal. It affects the game in a lot of ways. There's no substitute for it. You can't teach it. There's something to be said for it." Speed probably will have its say Thursday, too. Just maybe not to the same extent as Tuesday. Pitching matchupDET: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-1, 3.07 ERA)
It's still too early to determine anything about Galarraga's followup to his breakout 2008 season, but his last three outings have shown hints of pitching away from contact instead of toward it, as he did as a rookie. He has 11 walks over 16 innings in that stretch, including three in five innings in his most recent outing. The Indians, who had never hit him well, roughed him up for five runs on eight hits, but it was a walk to Kelly Shoppach in a four-run second inning that seemingly allowed his outing to unravel. Galarraga is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in two career games against the White Sox. CWS: LHP Mark Buehrle (4-0, 3.30 ERA)
Buehrle has won four straight to start a season for the second time in his career and for the first time since 2002, after emerging victorious from Friday's 4-3 win over Texas. He needed just 81 pitches to cover six innings, during which the southpaw allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out two and not issuing a walk. He also was tagged for a home run by leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler. Buehrle has not faced the Tigers this season, but he has a 13-8 lifetime record against them. Buehrle also holds a 70-40 career record with a 3.65 ERA at U.S. Cellular Field. Tidbits
Dontrelle Willis made his second rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, surrendering two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and gave up a home run as he picked up his first loss. ... Placido Polanco enters Thursday's game at Chicago with 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 RBIs in 63 games during his career against the White Sox. He is eighth among all active Major League players with a .323 batting average versus Chicago. ... Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in each of his last nine games, batting .452 (14-for-31) with a double, three homers and nine RBIs. Tickets
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• Friday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 2-2, 5.66) at Indians (Cliff Lee, 1-4, 3.92), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-2, 3.08) at Indians (Fausto Carmona, 1-3, 6.11), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 2-3, 4.71) at Indians (Anthony Reyes, 1-0, 6.84), 1:05 p.m. ET
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. David Just contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
