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Blue Jays-Tigers Preview

Sep 11, 2009 - 3:00 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Toronto (63-77) at Detroit (75-64), 7:05 p.m. EDT

After suffering a sweep to the American League's worst team, the Detroit Tigers are probably glad to come home.

They're likely not happy about facing the Toronto Blue Jays.

While trying to maintain their AL Central lead, the Tigers begin a four-game series Friday night against the Blue Jays, who have enjoyed a fair amount of success against Jim Leyland's club.

Detroit (75-64) began its six-game road trip with its first-ever sweep of defending AL champion Tampa Bay, but followed with three straight losses to last-place Kansas City capped by a 7-4 setback Thursday.

The Tigers, however, remained upbeat because of Minnesota's 3-2 loss in Toronto. They lead the Twins by 5 1/2 games.

"It's one of those things where you can't really hang your head at this point in the season," third baseman Brandon Inge told the Tigers' official Web site. "You can't get upset about it. You should really do the opposite. ... You should just relax and get back to basics and try to have fun again."

Detroit, though, hasn't fared well in recent matchups with the Blue Jays, losing eight of 11 overall and six of nine at home. Toronto took three of four in the season's opening series at the Rogers Centre.

However, the Blue Jays are 36-63 since taking the AL East lead with a 27-14 mark. Only Kansas City has fewer wins in that time.

Toronto (63-77) has alternated wins and losses in its last seven games, but has dropped 10 of 12 away from home.

That would seem to play into the Tigers' hands as they are 45-22 this season at home compared with 30-42 on the road. They have also won 30 of 41 at Comerica Park since a six-game skid May 23-June 5.

Nate Robertson (1-1, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Tigers, and he hasn't benefited in his two starts this season - both at home. Robertson is 0-1 with a 0.90 ERA in those outings while getting one run of support.

The left-hander is 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays, but has beaten them twice in Detroit.

Toronto will counter with Brian Tallet (6-9, 5.31), who has never started against the Tigers and is 1-1 with a 8.10 ERA since returning to the starting rotation Sept. 1. The left-hander has the same ERA over his last seven starts but earned his first win in that span with Sunday's 14-8 home victory over the New York Yankees.

He pitched five innings and gave up five runs and eight hits. He also was hit in the left leg by Mark Teixeira's line drive in the third.

"If I finish and that ball hits me on the shin, it's shattered and I'm done for probably a year," Tallet told the Blue Jays' official Web site.

Adam Lind homered twice and was 7 for 16 with seven RBIs in the previous meetings with Detroit. Inge had three homers in that series, giving him six in his last 18 games against Toronto.

The Blue Jays' Aaron Hill is 9 for 17 with two home runs in his career against Robertson.