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Orioles-Tigers Preview

Aug 4, 2009 - 3:40 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (44-60) at Detroit (54-49), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With a slim lead in the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers added a veteran arm with playoff experience to the rotation for some added insurance.

Jarrod Washburn makes his Tigers debut Tuesday night as the division leaders continue a four-game series with the last-place Baltimore Orioles.

Detroit (55-49) sent left-hander Luke French and minor leaguer Mauricio Robles to Seattle just hours before the end of Friday's trading deadline in exchange for the red-hot Washburn (8-6, 2.64 ERA), giving the Tigers another impressive arm in their rotation.

Detroit already has two pitchers among the top 10 in the AL for ERA in Edwin Jackson (2.64) and Justin Verlander (3.29). Washburn went 4-0 with an 0.74 ERA in his last five starts for the Mariners.

"We've got a pitcher who's had a hot hand," manager Jim Leyland said. "I think he'll be a great addition for us."

The move is especially important as Detroit tries to fend off the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota in the Central. The White Sox are in second place - two games back after the Tigers beat Baltimore 6-5 Monday.

Washburn's last start was Tuesday against Toronto, when he allowed one run and five hits over seven innings in Seattle's 4-3 win. It was another strong performance by the left-hander, who has given up 20 hits over 36 2-3 innings in his last five outings.

Washburn has split two starts against the Orioles (44-61) this season despite limiting them to one run and seven hits in 16 innings. He pitched a one-hitter in his last start versus them on July 6.

"All I'm worried about is pitching for the Detroit Tigers and getting another ring," said Washburn, who helped the Los Angeles Angels win the World Series in 2002. "The playoffs are an awful lot of fun and I want to get back."

While Detroit looks for help from a veteran, Brian Matusz will make his major league debut for the struggling Orioles, becoming the sixth rookie to start for Baltimore this season.

The 22-year-old left-hander was the fourth overall selection in the 2008 first-year player draft. He was 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 11 starts at Class A and was 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Bowie.

Matusz has a high standard to meet. Four of the rookie pitchers that have started for Baltimore this season won their debuts, with Chris Tillman the only loser of the group.

Matusz faces a Detroit team that got a walk-off homer from Clete Thomas with two outs in the ninth in Monday's victory. The Tigers, who lost two of three to Cleveland over the weekend, trailed 5-0 in the top of the first, but scored three times in the bottom of the inning and Miguel Cabrera tied it in the fifth with a solo homer.

"That was huge," Leyland said. "In a situation like that, you always want to put up a zero, and then you are up 5-0 going into the second with your leadoff hitter coming up again. When we come right back with three, that sends up a red flag that we're still in this game."

Cabrera is hitting .433 (13 for 30) with eight RBIs in his last six games.

Baltimore has allowed 34 runs during a four-game losing streak and is 4-13 since the All-Star break.

Brian Roberts homered Monday, extending his hitting streak to seven games. He is 0 for 8 against Washburn this season and 4 for 31 (.129) in his career.