Game 136: Royals (57-78) at Tigers (65-70)

Gil Meche (10-10, 4.13) vs. Armando Galarraga (12-4, 3.20)

Perhaps the best thing about playing a day game after a night game today is it provides the Tigers a chance to wipe out the memory of last night's 10-run loss that much sooner.  What's a good remedy for a hangover?  Apples?  Advil?  Bananas?  Sleep?  Coffee?  Pickles?  Hair of the dog?  For the Tigers, it might be their best starting pitcher, Armando Galarraga. 

Galarraga hasn't lost in his last seven starts, giving up no more than three runs in any game during the span.  And the last time he faced the Royals, Galarraga took a perfect game into the seventh inning.  KC eventually got three hits and scored a run, but it was still one of his most dominant performances of the season.  And really, as long as Kenny Rogers isn't the starting pitcher, the Tigers' chances against the Royals are pretty good. 

The Rangers played Whack-a-Meche against Gil Meche in his previous start, smacking him around for 14 hits and (only?) five runs in 6 1/3 innings.  He's winless in his last four outings despite posting a combined ERA under 4.00 in those games.  In two starts against the Tigers this season, Meche is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA. 

A win today would give the Tigers their fourth series win for the month of August.  (That's out of nine series, people.)