Josh Beckett (5-2, 4.60) vs. 
Armando Galarraga (3-5, 5.50), 7:05 p.m. EST
After losing the first game of this series to the Red Sox (and watching their home ballpark overtaken by a squirrel), the Tigers are currently 4-8 against AL East teams this season. Is it possible that the team watched video footage of that furry varmint in the clubhouse later on and found themselves inspired by its persistence, its refusal to surrender against an unfamiliar environment and grabby human overlords? Okay, maybe not.
Josh Beckett hasn't lost in his past five starts for Boston. And during that streak, he's allowed three or fewer runs in each game. In his last two outings, Beckett has given up only one earned run in 15 innings. So the Tigers appear to be catching him at a pretty bad time. Who has the most success against him in the Tigers' lineup? It might be Adam Everett, batting .333/.333/.778 with one homer in nine at-bats versus Beckett.
For the Tigers, the hope is that Armando Galarraga had a breakthrough in his last start. For the first time in his past six appearances, he gave up fewer than four runs and showed good control. Staying in the strike zone so consistently, however, probably resulted in the 10 hits he allowed, the most he's given up in his Tigers career. Galarraga has also served up a home run in six straight games, so if you're sitting in the outfield tonight, you might be getting a souvenir.
Jeff Larish gets the start at DH tonight, with Magglio Ordonez back in right field and Clete Thomas moving over to left.