Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2011 ) Cleveland 1, Detroit 4

THE STORY: Pitching and the long ball gave the Detroit Tigers a big win Friday. The Cleveland Indians will look to get even Saturday night in the second game of their series at Comerica Park. Friday's 4-1 victory moved the Tigers 2 1/2 games ahead of the Indians atop the American League Central. Max Scherzer pitched seven dominant innings while Austin Jackson, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta homered. Cleveland's sputtering offense received another setback when rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis was placed on the disabled list with oblique and hamstring injuries. Cleveland is 6-4 against Detroit, but the Tigers have taken three of four at home.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH David Huff (1-1, 0.51 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (4-13, 3.59 ERA).

Since Huff's pitching, there's a good chance the game will be rained out. He was pushed back in the rotation because of a rainout last month. Huff pitched two scoreless innings against Minnesota on Sunday, but the rain hit and the game never started again. He gave up the game-winning hit to Chicago's Juan Pierre in the 14th inning Tuesday, the only batter he faced. Huff is 0-1 lifetime against Detroit.

How will Fister respond to the pressure of a pennant race after pitching for lowly Seattle? He's 1-1 in three starts with the Tigers, but has allowed 10 earned runs and 24 hits in 14 2/3 innings. He was roughed up in losing his last start to Baltimore, giving up six earned runs and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Fister is 0-2 in his career against the Indians.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (62-59): Cleveland will have plenty of chances against Central Division opponents down the stretch. The Indians will play 29 of their final 41 games against division foes, including eight apiece against the first-place Tigers and third-place White Sox. The Indians have won six of their last nine within the division and are 22-21 against the Central overall. Cleveland also plays seven games against Minnesota and six versus Kansas City.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (66-58): If Detroit wins the division, it will be with little contribution from veterans Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez. There has been clamoring by Tigers fans to dump both high-priced players. Guillen, who is making $11 million, is on the disabled list for the second time this season. Ordonez, who is making $10 million, is hitting .228 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 268 at-bats. The addition of left fielder Delmon Young has moved Brennan Boesch to right, which will leave little playing time for Ordonez in the final six weeks.

FINAL PITCH: The Indians thought they caught a break by not having to face Tigers ace Justin Verlander in the series. However, Scherzer looked a lot like Verlander on Friday and the Indians will have to regroup quickly.