Detroit @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2012 ) Detroit 4, Cleveland 0
Anibal Sanchez hasn't had quite the impact the Detroit Tigers hoped he would on the American League Cenral race when they acquired him from the Miami Marlins in July. Despite his struggles, Sanchez still has time to make his mark on the playoff picture, beginning with Saturday's outing against the woeful Cleveland Indians.
Sanchez will have a tough act to follow after Justin Verlander and two relievers combined to shut out the Indians on Friday, keeping Detroit within one game of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Cleveland still leads the season series 9-7 and has won five of seven meetings at Progressive Field. The Indians were in contention in the first half, but they faded quickly. They are 16-44 since the All-Star break and 10-32 since the start of August.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (2-5, 4.40 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (11-13, 4.96)
The wins haven't come easily for Sanchez in Detroit, as he has posted four straight quality starts with just one victory to show for it. He has faced the Indians twice since switching leagues, allowing four runs (one earned) in 12 innings. His first win for the Tigers came against Cleveland on Aug. 3.
Masterson has alternated good and bad starts recently. After getting knocked around for six runs in 6 2/3 innings in his last outing at Minnesota, he should be due to bounce back. Masterson pitched well against the Tigers on Sept. 4 in Detroit, allowing two runs over six innings en route to earning the win. Masterson is 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) against Detroit, including a 2-1 mark and a 5.29 ERA in three starts this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera is 11-for-25 (.440) with two homers against Masterson and 1B Prince Fielder is 4-for-9 (.444) with a homer against him.
2. Cleveland SS Asdrubal Cabrera (sprained right wrist) and OF Michael Brantley (strained left pectoral muscle) could return by the end of the series. Cabrera has missed five straight games and Brantley has missed the past two.
3. The Indians have won only two series since the All-Star break, but both have been against Detroit.