Justin Verlander (0-2, 7.88) vs. Joe Saunders (2-1, 2.18), 10:05 p.m. EST
After an outing in which he pitched into the eighth inning, looking great except for an awful fifth inning, Justin Verlander tries once again to show that he's better than his record and ERA show. It would be extremely encouraging to see him build on what looked like something of a breakthrough and return to form on Friday night.
Verlander has an 0-2 record and 4.84 ERA in three career starts against the Angels. This will be the first time he's pitched in Anaheim.
Joe Saunders has pitched well in two of his three starts this season, giving the Angels the closest thing they have to an ace among a decimated pitching staff. Pitchers like him, who change speeds well and use sinkers as their primary pitch, seem to have given the Tigers problems over the past couple of years. He's faced Detroit four times in his career, posting an 0-1 record and 4.50 ERA.
Freshly called up from Toledo to replace the injured Marcus Thames, Ryan Raburn gets the start in right field to give the lineup another right-handed bat against the lefty Saunders. He'll bat eighth, while Magglio Ordonez mans the DH spot, and Carlos Guillen plays in left field.