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Angels-Tigers Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 10:24 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (26-25) at Detroit (28-23), 7:05 p.m. EDT

When the Los Angeles Angels pounded Justin Verlander for seven runs in five innings earlier this season, the right-hander was searching for answers on the heels of a 17-loss season and a dismal start to 2009.

This time around, the Angels will be facing a pitcher who's performing like the emerging ace he was prior to last year.

Verlander tries to win his seventh straight decision and stop a three-game Detroit losing streak as the Tigers take on the Angels at Comerica Park on Friday night.

Verlander struggled to an 11-17 mark and 4.84 ERA in 2008, and didn't pitch any better early this season. His ERA swelled to 9.00 on April 22, when Detroit beat Los Angeles 12-10 but Verlander allowed the seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Since then, Verlander (6-2, 3.63 ERA) is 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA in seven starts, striking out 65 in 48 1-3 innings.

He's been so good that his six-inning, three-run performance Saturday at Baltimore was probably his worst outing over that span. He still earned the win in Detroit's 6-3 victory.

"Not the way I would have drawn it up," Verlander said. "It wasn't easy for me out there tonight, but my guys picked me up."

Verlander has yet to have it easy when facing the Angels, as he's 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in four career starts against them.

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana has a better history versus Detroit, winning all three of his starts against the Tigers last year with a 2.38 ERA. However, he's been pitching the way Verlander did six weeks ago.

Santana (0-2, 9.50) started the season on the disabled list with an elbow problem, and after pitching well in his first two starts, has been ineffective in his last two.

In those outings, he's posted a 21.32 ERA as opponents have hit .528 against him.

"I'm just coming back from an injury," Santana told the Angels' official Web site. "I'm throwing 88, 90 (miles per hour). Last year, I was 95 to 97, 98 sometimes - a lot of difference."

Los Angeles (27-25) has dealt with plenty of injuries this year, but the Angels have remained in contention in the AL West. They had lost five of seven after dropping the opener of a three-game set in Toronto on Tuesday, but salvaged the series with back-to-back wins.

Howie Kendrick scored on Erick Aybar's double play ball in the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a 6-5 victory Thursday afternoon.

The first-place Tigers (28-24) had no such success this week, opening their homestand with a three-game sweep by Boston.

Detroit was outscored 21-9 by the Red Sox and dropped the series finale 6-3 on Thursday. Dontrelle Willis walked five in another bout with wildness and slugger Miguel Cabrera left the game in the second inning with a hamstring injury.

"We'll see how I feel, but it isn't too bad," Cabrera said. "I'm hoping to play (Friday)."

The Tigers are facing a second straight perennial playoff contender. Detroit lost two of three at Anaheim in April and has dropped five straight series to Los Angeles, going 4-11 over that span.

Angels leadoff hitter Chone Figgins has struggled against Verlander in his career, going 1 for 11 with seven strikeouts.