Detroit @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) Cleveland 1, Detroit 7
Mother Nature threw the Cleveland Indians quite the curveball. After rain postponed the Detroit Tigers' series finale versus the Chicago White Sox, reigning American League Cy Young and MVP Justin Verlander was shifted to start Friday's opener against the Indians. The Tigers took two of three from the White Sox to trim Chicago's lead to just one game in the AL Central. The makeup contest is scheduled for Monday, which was originally a mutual off-day for both clubs.
As their record indicates, the Indians have endured several "off" days during the second half of the season. Cleveland, however, did show some gumption on Thursday by rebounding from an error-plagued eighth inning to belt a pair of homers in a 5-4 triumph over Texas. Jason Kipnis' two-run blast capped the rally as the Indians snapped a five-game losing skid with just their sixth win in 28 contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (13-8, 2.91 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (1-3, 5.26)
Verlander has won only once in his last six starts and has hit a rough patch of late, getting roughed up in two of his past three outings. The 29-year-old also struggled against the Indians on July 26, permitting five runs in seven innings in a 5-3 setback. Verlander was cuffed around for six runs on nine hits by the Los Angeles Angels his last time out and fanned a season low-tying three.
Kluber was shelled in his last trip to the mound, yielding five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings before recording a no-decision against Minnesota. The 26-year-old fared significantly better in his previous outing - a solid six-inning effort versus Detroit on Sept 3. That effort resulted in Kluber's lone victory of the season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit CF Austin Jackson went 5-for-8 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs scored in his last two games. Jackson was a spectator when Kluber took the mound on Sept. 3.
2. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera will have his ailing right wrist examined at the Cleveland Clinic on Friday.
3. Prince Fielder snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a three-run homer on Wednesday. The slugger failed to get a hit in his only two at-bats versus Kluber.