Mike Maroth (3-2, 5.04) vs. 
Fausto Carmona (6-1, 2.89), 7:05 p.m. EST
This thing is starting to become a little bit ugly, isn't it?
Six losses in the last seven games for the Detroit Tigers, and tonight, they're facing a guy who could make it seven losses in eight games. Last night's loss was especially frustrating because the Tigers actually scored some runs on C.C. Sabathia, presumably Cleveland's #1 pitcher. But Carmona might be the starter who's throwing the better stuff these days. He's not striking out as many batters, but he's giving up fewer runs.
The Tigers hung three runs on Carmona last Sunday in Detroit, but the Indians scored five against Maroth and capped off a sweep at Comerica Park. And after winning seven straight games in which Maroth was the starting pitcher, Detroit has now lost his last two starts.
You know, I was going to try and do some more research and come up with some information of note. Our guy hits their guy well. This dude owns that dude, so watch out for him tonight. Etc. But really, it comes down to this: As a Detroit sports fan, I'm really #$@%ing tired of losing to teams from Cleveland right now.
Even Curtis Granderson wants Detroit to rise back up! (Well... not quite. I don't want to misrepresent the young man. Besides, that's Cleveland's slogan. Blech.) But let's get back to me: I'm a simple man with a simple request. And that is for a frickin' Detroit team to beat a frickin' Cleveland team. Throw us a bone here!
Short Hops:
▪▪ Has even Jim Leyland had enough of Sean Casey's feeble production? (via The Detroit Tigers Weblog)
▪▪ Meanwhile, Buster Olney (insider) says the Rangers might be ready to deal Mark Teixeira, as there's some tension between him and Ron Washington. (I'm not so big on trading for Teixeira - and not just because I can never spell the dude's name correctly - but I know some Tigers fans feel otherwise.)
▪▪ Brandon Inge said Alex Rodriguez has pulled that yelling out crap with one of his Tigers teammates.