Game 161 Preview: Tigers at Royals

Your 2012 AL Central Division Champion Detroit Tigers (87-73) at Kansas City Royals (71-89)

Time/Place: 8:00 p.m., Kaufmann Stadium

SB Nation Blog: Royals Review

Media: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Pitching Matchup: RHP Doug Fister (10-9, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 4.82 ERA)

Guthrie pitched well for a few innings against the Tigers in his last start, but came unraveled in the fourth inning, allowing three runs en route to a 5-4 Tigers win. Those four earned runs nearly matched the five that he had given up in the entire month of September prior to that start. In fact, it was only the second time since July that Guthrie had given up more than three runs in a game. As for the part that you're actually concerned with? Miguel Cabrera has a .304/.393/.565 line and two home runs off of Guthrie in 28 career plate appearances.

It's pretty unfair that Fister didn't get a win for his masterful performance against the Royals in his last start, because he was awesome. Of course, both Rick Porcello and Anibal Sanchez deserve a few more wins on the season too, but it would be nice to see Fister get another W (or at least a no decision) to ensure his first winning record of his career. Don't be surprised if Leyland is quick with Fister's hook tonight too in order to keep him fresh for the postseason.

Outlook

Who cares?

Just kidding. Fister has decent career numbers against the Royals, but has only logged 10 career innings in Kaufmann Stadium. If he does anything close to what he did in his last start, the Tigers will be in a good position to pick up win #88 on the year.

Prediction

Cabrera picks up a couple more hits tonight, but no homers.