Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1, 3.60) vs. 
Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 2.95), 1:05 p.m. EST
Can the Tigers get a series win and end their homestand on a high note before taking their show to the west coast? Or will the Mariners once again take two out of three in a series at Comerica Park?
Ryan Rowland-Smith has allowed just two runs in each of his past two starts, the last one being a three-hit effort at Yankee Stadium. And this is despite wearing those same sports glasses that Nate Robertson does. (So it's not the glasses, apparently...) Rowland-Smith has a 3.48 ERA against the Tigers in five career appearances. (And I swear I'm not just building him up to avoid the same jinx I cast with Ian Snell last night.)
After three starts in a Tigers uniform, Jarrod Washburn finally showed the skills that made him such a hot commodity at the trade deadline. Matched up against Zack Greinke, Washburn shut the Royals out for eight innings, holding them to three hits. But it's going to be pretty weird facing guys who were his teammates just over two weeks ago, right? How could it not be? So who has the advantage? Which side has a better read on the other's tendencies?
Curtis Granderson gets the day off today, either because of Rowland-Smith being a lefty or because of his 0-for-13 slump. Or probably both. Clete Thomas thus gets the start in centerfield, and Placido Polanco will lead off. Elsewhere in the lineup, Carlos Guillen and Aubrey Huff also take a seat. Ryan Raburn is in left, and Marcus Thames is the DH (batting second).