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Tigers-Yankees Preview

Jul 18, 2009 - 11:16 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (48-40) at New York (52-37), 2:05 p.m. EDT

After stumbling into the All-Star break, the New York Yankees have looked rejuvenated in winning their first two games since the Midsummer Classic.

Joba Chamberlain hopes to provide the next solid pitching performance for the Yankees, who try to sweep the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers for the first time in four years Sunday.

In Saturday's 2-1 win over the Tigers (48-41), New York's CC Sabathia outdueled All-Star Justin Verlander in a prime pitching matchup.

Behind Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Yankees (53-37) have yielded four runs in winning the first two games of this series after allowing 29 in being swept by the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels in a three-game set last weekend.

Chamberlain (4-2, 4.25 ERA) was responsible for some of those pitching woes in Anaheim.

The right-hander gave up five runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings of the Yankees' 10-6 loss July 10 after being tagged for a career-high eight runs - three earned - in 3 2-3 innings of their 10-8 win over Toronto on July 5.

"It's frustrating. I'm letting my teammates down, so it's kind of embarrassing, too," said Chamberlain, who hasn't received a decision in his last three outings.

"I'm doing everything I can between starts, going out every day and continuing to work my tail off to get better to help this team, and I'm not getting results. The last two starts is the best my stuff has been all year, which makes it even more frustrating."

Chamberlain is likely also a bit frustrated that he's still seeking his first win at the new Yankee Stadium. After nine home starts, he is 0-2 with a 5.36 ERA.

He had little trouble pitching at Detroit on April 29, allowing one run and three hits with six strikeouts in seven innings of an 8-6 win.

The Yankees, who haven't swept a three-game series from the Tigers since May 24-26, 2005, scored their only runs Saturday on an Alex Rodriguez solo homer that just cleared the short right-field wall and a Melky Cabrera RBI single.

After having limited success against Verlander, New York could again have trouble scoring when it faces another All-Star in the series finale.

Edwin Jackson (7-4, 2.52) should be well-rested after throwing only four pitches in a perfect inning of relief in Tuesday's All-Star game. In his final start before the break, the right-hander gave up one run and four hits in seven innings of a 5-1 victory over Cleveland, his first win since June 6.

Jackson's ERA - the third-best in the AL - helped him earn his first All-Star selection, but his 3.55 run support average - one of the worst in the majors - has prevented him from being among the league leaders in wins.

A lack of run support and bullpen meltdown kept him from beating the Yankees on April 28. He allowed four hits in six shutout innings of an 11-0 loss.

The Tigers have really struggled to score away from Detroit lately, plating three runs or fewer in 14 of their last 19 road games. They've won just six of those contests.

Marcus Thames provided Detroit's only offense Saturday with a solo homer in the eighth inning, giving him five home runs in his last 10 games.

"If we get one of those (homers) with a couple of those guys on base - somebody, anybody - it makes a big difference," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site.