Aaron Laffey (7-3, 3.40) vs. 
Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.27), 7:05 p.m. EST
The Tigers got this series and the month of September off to a strong start with a win over the Indians. (Though the Tribe fought back from an 8-1 deficit to make the final outcome pretty close.) And with the White Sox's surprising comeback win over the Twins this afternoon at the Metrodome, Detroit has a chance to add a game to its AL Central lead. (No squandering!)
Aaron Laffey hasn't lost in his past five starts for the Indians, though he hasn't earned a decision in the last two. He's allowed three runs or fewer in each of those games, and in two of those starts, he didn't allow a single earned run. On the road this season, Laffey is 3-3 with a 4.75 ERA. The last time he pitched in Detroit, the Tigers chased him in the fourth inning, scoring five runs. Four of those came on a grand slam by Adam Everett.
Rick Porcello bounced back nicely from his bad game in Oakland, holding the Rays to one run and four hits in his last start. And Tampa Bay only really got to him once he began to tire out. Porcello worked past the 100-pitch threshold for the first time in his major league career. Last time he faced the Indians, Kid Rick allowed one run and four hits over eight innings. He's given up two runs in 13 innings versus Cleveland this season.
It's an all-righty lineup for the Tigers against the lefty Laffey. Wilkin Ramirez gets the start in left field, while Ryan Raburn plays in center.