Detroit @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2011 ) Detroit 2, Cleveland 3

THE STORY: It's doubtful the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians will be able to top Tuesday's game when they meet in game two of their series Wednesday night at Progressive Field. The teams battled into the 14th inning before the Indians pulled out a 3-2 victory when David Pauley hit Kosuke Fukudome with a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run. The game, which also featured a rain delay of two hours and three minutes, finally ended at 1:52 a.m. Detroit used six relievers while Cleveland used seven so it will be up to starters Rick Porcello and Ubaldo Jimenez to pitch deep into the game. The Tigers lead the Indians by three games in the American League Central.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Rick Porcello (11-6, 4.49 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.64 ERA)

Porcello's streak of wins in five consecutive starts ended with a no-decision against Kansas City when he allowed three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He has given up 14 earned runs in 38 2/3 innings in his last six starts. Porcello has never lost to the Indians, going 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA. He gave up solo homers to Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley in a no-decision on April 30.

Jimenez allowed five runs in five innings against Texas in his first start with the Indians. He gave up a run in each of the first three innings before retiring seven in a row. Just when it looked like Jimenez was in a groove, he gave up a home run and a walk to start the sixth, and was pulled. He defeated Detroit on June 18 at Coors Field, giving up three runs in five innings.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (61-54): Anytime a team contends for the division title, it has to get help from unexpected sources. That's been the case with Jhonny Peralta, who has put up surprising numbers for Detroit. After batting .254 and .249 the last two seasons, Peralta is hitting .312 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs. The Tigers acquired Peralta from the Indians last season for a minor-league pitcher. While his lack of range at shortstop still makes him a defensive liability, Peralta is having his best offensive season in four years.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (57-56): Cleveland is getting mixed news on the return of injured players. Shin-Soo Choo, out since June 24 with a broken left thumb, is on a minor-league rehab assignment and could return next week. Grady Sizemore's return is much less certain. He's been sidelined with a sports hernia and knee injury since July 17. There's no timetable for Sizemore's return and manager Manny Acta sounds as if he's ready to go the rest of 2011 without the three-time All-Star, who hasn't played a full season since 2008.

FINAL PITCH: The Indians are 4-0 at home against the Tigers this season. All of the wins have come in Cleveland's last at-bat, including three walkoff victories. The Indians have won 12 straight at home over the Tigers.