Kansas City @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Kansas City 4, Detroit 5

THE STORY: Jim Leyland is pulling all the right strings, which is why the 66-year-old manager has his Detroit Tigers in position to win their first division title in 24 years. Exhibit A: Prized rookie Jacob Turner will start Thursday’s series finale against the visiting Kansas City Royals to ensure ace Justin Verlander is well-rested for a crucial weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. Detroit has won the last two games after dropping the opener of the four-game series. Former Royal Wilson Betemit capped a three-run eighth inning with a go-ahead double in Wednesday’s 5-4 victory.

TV: 1:05 pm. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jacob Turner (0-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (3-8, 5.55).

Turner, the ninth pick of the 2009 draft, is making his second career start. The 20-year-old, who is Detroit’s top pitching prospect, allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Los Angeles on July 30. With rosters expanding from 25 to 40 players Thursday, Turner is wisely being called up from Triple-A Toledo for a spot start. Duffy went 0-4 with a 6.84 ERA in August. The lefthander, who is one of the Royals’ prized young arms, is approaching the team-imposed 150-inning limit. He is 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Detroit.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (75-61): Detroit hasn't won a division title since capturing the American League East in 1987, but Leyland has them in the driver’s seat in the AL Central. Detroit has a 5 1/2-game lead over Cleveland and six over over Chicago. The White Sox come to town Friday and Verlander, who has already notched his 20th win, will start on an extra day's rest. Leyland, ever the tactician, has used 99 different lineups this season. Miguel Cabrera is 12-for-23 over the last six games. Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson went 4-for-4 Wednesday and is 7-for-14 in the series. Jose Valverde extended his franchise record to 40 consecutive saves Wednesday.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (56-81): Kansas City is 4-5 on a 10-game road trip. The most disappointing part is all the losses have been by one run. More than half of the Royals’ games - 74 - have been decided by two runs or less, including an AL-leading 52 by one run. The Royals are 22-30 in those games. Rookie third baseman Mike Moustakas extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games Wednesday. Rookie reliever Greg Holland has allowed only one of the 29 runners he has inherited to score, the best mark in baseball. Philadelphia’s Antonio Bastardo leads the National League (2-for-29). Eric Homer, the Royals’ best prospect entering the season, recorded his first multi-homer game Wednesday.

FINAL PITCH: “People wonder why I play so many different lineups, but that’s what you have to do when you want to win a division.” - Leyland, on tinkering with the lineup.