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Game 44: Tigers at Royals

Edwin Jackson (4-2, 2.55) vs. Zack Greinke (7-1, 0.82), 8:10 p.m. EST

Now this could be fun. Only six starting pitchers in the American League have an ERA below 3.00 and two of them face off tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

Zack Greinke has been in a different category this season, however, allowing just six earned runs in 66 innings. He arguably pitched his "worst" game of the year last time out, giving up eight hits (and two runs) over six innings. But Greinke still would've gotten his eighth win if the Royals' bullpen hadn't eventually blown it. Perhaps his best effort so far was against the Tigers, in which he allowed only three hits in a complete game performance.

Edwin Jackson has had five days of rest since throwing 132 pitches last Thursday afternoon. But if he tires out earlier this evening, we'll probably have a good idea as to why. Jackson has won his previous three starts, giving up just four runs in 23 innings, with 20 strikeouts and six walks. Five of those walks were in that last start, however, which was his highest total of the season. If he walks that many batters again, fatigue could be a reason.

Here are tonight's starting lineups:


Lineup

Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City Royals

05/26/09 8:10 PM EDT

Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals
Curtis Granderson - CF Coco Crisp - CF
Placido Polanco - 2B David DeJesus - LF
Magglio Ordonez - RF Billy Butler - 1B
Miguel Cabrera - 1B Jose Guillen - RF
Jeff Larish - DH Mike Jacobs - DH
Brandon Inge - 3B Mark Teahen - 3B
Clete Thomas - LF Alberto Callaspo - 2B
Gerald Laird - C Miguel Olivo - C
Adam Everett - SS Luis Hernandez - SS

And I forgot to mention yesterday that Royals Review has your SB Nation opposing view for this series.

UPDATE: Dan Dickerson will be out of the Tigers' radio booth tonight, after he hurt himself while jogging. John Keating will jump over from FOX Sports Detroit and handle the play-by-play with Jim Price.