Baltimore @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2010 ) Baltimore 2, Detroit 4

Two teams enjoying their roles as spoilers meet Friday as the Baltimore Orioles visit the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Tigers took three of four games against the Chicago White Sox (71-70) and are now above .500 for the first time since the end of July. Baltimore, meanwhile, is 21-14 since Buck Showalter took over as manager.

Kevin Millwood (3-15, 5.38 ERA) takes the hill for the Orioles, leading the American League with 15 losses. The veteran was brought in to help Baltimore’s young rotation and by all accounts he has been a good influence and a strong presence in the locker room. However, after starting with a 3.38 ERA in his first five starts with the team, things have gone south for Millwood.

He heads into Saturday’s game having won just once over his last 11 outings. During that stretch he has allowed at least five runs six times and hasn’t struck out more than five batters in any of those starts.

Millwood was on the wrong end of a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in his last start, allowing four runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Like all of Baltimore’s starters, Millwood can only wonder what his record might be with a little more run support. The Orioles (53-87) average just 3.73 runs per game.

Armando Galarraga (4-5, 3.89 ERA) gets ready for another date with umpire Jim Joyce, who cost him a perfect game on June 2 with a bad call on a close play at first base. Galarraga had sat down 26 Cleveland Indians before the play. Joyce admitted his mistake and apologized to the Detroit starter following the game.

Joyce is scheduled to be the home plate umpire.

Galarraga heads into Friday having won just once over his last 12 starts, but he hasn’t been as bad as those numbers suggest. Over that stretch, he allowed more than four runs only once and that was back on June 29. Since then he has four losses to go along with seven no-decisions and the one win.

He didn’t factor in the decision during a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals the last time he toed the rubber, allowing one run over five innings. Control was a problem for Galarraga though, as he walked five and was concerned about lack of movement on his pitches and a stiff elbow after the start.

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera is still listed as day-to-day with nagging shoulder and biceps problems. The first baseman, who leads the league with 110 RBIs, has missed the last two games but could return Friday.