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Tigers-Indians Preview

Jul 31, 2009 - 7:58 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Detroit (53-47) at Cleveland (42-60), 7:05 p.m. EDT

At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Curtis Granderson isn't a prototypical home run hitter.

But if Detroit's leadoff man can continue to hit homers and drive in runs at his current pace, the Tigers like their chances in the AL Central race.

On Friday night, Granderson and the division-leading Tigers go for their fourth consecutive victory at Progressive Field as they open a three-game set against a Cleveland Indians club that's clearly in rebuilding mode.

Granderson had a leadoff homer and added a two-run shot in the second inning Wednesday when the Tigers (53-47) defeated Texas 13-5 to snap a three-game slide.

"I'm not trying to hit home runs in the first at-bat," said Granderson, who leads Detroit with 22 homers and is third with 50 RBIs. "I'm trying to hit the ball hard and hope the rest of the team keeps that edge."

Led by Granderson's fourth career two-homer game and first baseman Miguel Cabrera's four-hit, four-RBI effort, Detroit scored its most runs since May 25 while recording a season high-tying 19 hits.

"(Granderson) set the tone and everybody fell in place," said manager Jim Leyland, whose club batted .192 and averaged 2.0 runs during its three-game slide. "That's what we need to do. Get a bunch of our guys going hot. If we can get a bunch of them going at once, then we're in business."

Leyland hands the ball to All-Star Edwin Jackson (7-5, 2.59 ERA) as the Tigers try to win for the eighth time in 10 meetings with the Indians (42-60)in 2009.

Jackson is going for his first victory in three starts since allowing one run and four hits in a 5-1 home win over Cleveland on July 10. On May 9 at Progressive Field, the 25-year-old right-hander struck out seven and yielded five hits in seven innings of a 4-0 victory.

Cleveland's Fausto Carmona (2-6, 7.42) lost that contest after walking a season-high six over 6 2-3 innings. He was sent to the minors less than a month later and will be making his first start since June 4.

Carmona was recalled Thursday to take the rotation spot of reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, who was traded along with outfielder Ben Francisco to Philadelphia on Wednesday for four minor leaguers.

The Indians also sent right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt to Colorado on July 23 and first baseman Ryan Garko to San Francisco on Monday. Catcher Victor Martinez was dealt before Friday's trading deadline, going to Boston for right-hander Justin Masterson and minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price.

"I understand and sympathize with the fans' focus, and their desire is always in that moment and that juncture in time," general manager Mark Shapiro told the Indians' official Web site. "What I'd say is that like any other decision we make, we have one eye on the immediacy of the moment and one eye on building a team that's going to win a championship."

Detroit lost four straight and 10 of 13 at Progressive Field before a three-game sweep from May 8-10. Granderson is hitting .313 with a homer and five RBIs in nine games against Cleveland this season, and he's done well when facing Carmona in his career.

The speedy center fielder is 12 for 27 (.444) with three doubles, two triples and a homer lifetime against the right-hander.