Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2011 ) Detroit 0, LA Dodgers 4

THE STORY: After posting consecutive shutouts, the Los Angeles Dodgers look for their third straight victory when they host the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. The Dodgers silenced the Tigers’ hot bats in the series opener Monday, when Clayton Kershaw limited Detroit to a season-low two hits. The Tigers have lost four of their last six.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, KCAL

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (9-2, 4.32) vs. Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (5-6, 4.65 ERA)

Scherzer allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out four over 5 2/3 innings last Thursday against the Indians. The Tigers are 2-8 in Scherzer’s last 10 starts during the second game of a series. Billingsley had his third straight rough outing last Wednesday against the Reds, lasting just four innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits and four walks. The Dodgers are 5-11 in Billingsley’s last 16 starts against a team with a winning record.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (39-34): First baseman Miguel Cabrera is not expected to be in Tuesday’s starting lineup as manager Jim Leyland looks to give him a day off for the first time this season. With Cabrera off, Alex Avila will get the start at catcher and Victor Martinez will play first base. Unless things change, it doesn’t appear Justin Verlander will be available for the All-Star Game. Leyland isn’t planning on changing his rotation, which means Verlander is on schedule to start two days before the All-Star Game, which would basically remove him from consideration. Reliever Jose Valverde has surrendered just one hit in his past eight relief appearances, and he's 16-for-16 in save chances. Brandon Inge (mononucleosis) continued his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Monday, and he's expected to rejoin the Tigers on Friday. Don Kelly has performed well at third base with Inge out, and he’ll likely be used at third and second base when Inge returns.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (33-41): Shortstop Rafael Furcal (oblique) could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as next week. Rookie Dee Gordon has made a positive first impression with Furcal out, hitting .280 with four steals in 13 games. It’s unclear if Gordon will be sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque when Furcal returns. The Dodgers have a surplus of infielders who can play multiple positions, including Juan Uribe, Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles. Matt Kemp has moved into fourth place among National League outfielders in the latest round of All-Star balloting, but he’s still more than 300,000 votes behind Matt Holliday in the battle for the third and final starting spot. Reliever Jonathan Broxton will start a rehab assignment Tuesday for Triple-A Albuquerque, and starter Jon Garland (shoulder inflammation) is not far behind.

FINAL PITCH: Leyland on Kershaw, who threw his third career complete game on Monday: “We could've played another three or four innings and we weren't going to hit that guy. Not tonight. He was tremendous.”