Freddy Garcia (2-4, 4.78) vs.
Alfredo Figaro (2-1, 5.74), 7:05 p.m. EST
Well, if the Tigers wanted to make this weekend simple, they did it by losing last night to the White Sox. Detroit could really only afford to lose one game, if they wanted to keep the AL Central completely in their hands.
Any chance for some help went up in smoke with Zack Greinke and the Royals just losing 5-4 to the Twins. So if this team needed to feel a wall against their back to give them some more urgency, the wall is there.
Everyone in Tiger Town would certainly appreciate a repeat performance from Freddy Garcia. Last Saturday in Chicago, Garcia was cruising with a 5-0 lead through four innings, having only allowed one hit. The Tigers chipped at that lead in the next two innings before blowing it open with a four-run seventh.
That ended Garcia's streak of six consecutive quality starts. His career record at Comerica Park is 6-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 starts.
Alfredo Figaro gets the spot start for Detroit after Rick Porcello's turn in the rotation was pushed back because of Monday's rainout. Jim Leyland really didn't have much choice in picking someone to fill in, but Figaro's outing in last Saturday's comeback win might have strengthened that belief. Figaro's 2.2 scoreless innings (with only one hit allowed) kept the White Sox down while the Tigers rallied.
One big question, however, is how much stamina Figaro will have, as he hasn't pitched more than four innings since late June.
The Tigers' batting order pretty much the same as they did last night, except for Adam Everett starting at shortstop. Aubrey Huff is in the lineup, as he's 10-for-24 versus Garcia with two homers and four RBIs. He's switched spots with Carlos Guillen, however, and is now batting sixth.