Detroit @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2011 ) Detroit 4, Kansas City 3

THE STORY: The Detroit Tigers are rolling with a starting rotation that is emerging as the class of the American League Central. Justin Verlander is no longer the only starter the Tigers can count on to dominate the opposition and the lineup is cruising right along. The Kansas City Royals are firmly in last place in the Central but keep giving their fans new things to cheer about as each new prospect makes his way into the lineup. Detroit will be looking for a sweep of the three-game series when they send Max Scherzer to the mound at Kansas City on Sunday.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Bruce Chen (5-5, 4.37 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.23).

Chen has watched his ERA shoot up by more than a run in his last two starts. The veteran lefthander was lit up for 10 runs in four innings against the Boston Red Sox on July 27 and surrendered three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings against Baltimore on Tuesday. Chen had one of his best starts of 2011 against the Tigers on April 9 when he tossed six scoreless innings to earn a win. He is 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 career games against Detroit. Scherzer has settled into a nice groove of late, allowing two runs or less in each of his last five starts. The 27-year old missed out on a win when his bullpen let him down Tuesday after he pitched six strong innings. The stretch started at Kansas City on July 7 and Scherzer has toyed with the Royals in the past, owning a 4-2 record with a 2.34 ERA against them in seven starts.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (48-65): The latest addition to the lineup - Johnny Giavotella - managed a hit off Verlander on Saturday and is 3-for-7 in his first two major league games. With Mike Moustakas at third base, Eric Hosmer at first, Alcides Escobar at shortstop and Giavotella at second, Kansas City has its entire infield of the future at the major league level. Unfortunately, the Royals' young pitchers are taking their lumps. The one starter from Kansas City’s highly touted system to stick with the team so far is lefthander Danny Duffy, who took the 4-3 loss Saturday and failed to pitch into the sixth inning for the third straight start.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (61-52): Verlander tied New York’s CC Sabathia for the major league lead with his 16th win Saturday. He struck out eight in seven innings. The victory gave Detroit five wins in its last six games and yet another quality start. In the last few trips through the rotation, Verlander, Scherzer and Rick Porcello have all been strong and Doug Fister made a quality start in his debut with the team earlier in the week. Only Brad Penny has yet to join in the mix. Victor Martinez drove in a pair of runs Saturday before leaving in the eighth inning after spraining his left knee sliding into home plate. He limped off the field with help from trainer Kevin Rand.

FINAL PITCH: Detroit manager Jim Leyland will shuffle his rotation this week to fit Verlander into Thursday’s series finale against the Cleveland Indians. With an off day Monday, Leyland had the option of keeping his rotation and giving his ace an extra day of rest. Instead, Verlander will go on a normal schedule with four days’ rest and Penny will be bumped back to the weekend.