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Royals-Tigers Preview

Sep 16, 2009 - 4:05 PM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

Kansas City (58-86) at Detroit (77-67), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Barring a late collapse, the Detroit Tigers will win the AL Central title. Right now, though, they can't seem to beat the worst team in their division.

The Tigers try to bounce back from an embarrassing loss and avoid their sixth straight defeat to the last-place Kansas City Royals as the teams continue their series Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

Detroit (77-67) leads the Central by 4 1/2 games over Minnesota while Kansas City (58-86) owns the AL's worst record, but it hasn't looked that way in their meetings this month. The Royals put 19 runs on the board in a three-game home sweep of the Tigers last week, and rolled to an 11-1 victory in Tuesday's series opener.

"The Tigers aren't as at full strength as Jim would like them, and we understand that," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "But they are still playing for something, and we don't feel sorry for them, just like no one feels sorry for us for being in last place."

Alberto Callaspo, David DeJesus and Miguel Olivo all hit three-run homers to lead Kansas City to its fifth straight win over Detroit and seventh in eight games overall, as the Tigers' Jarrod Washburn gave up four runs in one inning - the shortest start of his career - before leaving with a sore left knee.

Tuesday's loss was the sixth in eight games for Detroit, which has a 6.56 staff ERA in that stretch. The bullpen comes into this contest taxed, having thrown eight innings Tuesday and 26 1-3 in the past week.

"There's no momentum in baseball - there's just the next day's pitcher," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Kansas City won't get any momentum from (Tuesday) - it just depends how the pitching goes."

Unfortunately, the Tigers' relievers may need to be ready for a lot more work with Eddie Bonine (0-0, 6.11 ERA) taking the mound.

Six of Bonine's seven appearances this season have come in relief. The lone start came July 24, when the right-hander allowed three runs over six innings in a spot start against the White Sox. He was sent back to Triple-A Toledo after that outing, and has given up one run in three innings over two relief appearances since being recalled Sept. 1.

Bonine last pitched Thursday against the Tigers, when the only hit he allowed in two innings was a solo homer to Callaspo in the Royals' 7-4 win.

Lenny DiNardo (0-0, 3.60) made his season debut in that contest for Kansas City, giving up two runs, seven hits and three walks over five innings. The left-hander, who split the first five years of his career between Boston and Oakland, hadn't pitched in the majors since allowing three runs in an inning of relief at Detroit on Aug. 9, 2008.

"I had a few butterflies," DiNardo said. "It's been about a year since I've been able to pitch in the big leagues."

The Tigers will have one more reliever at their disposal if DiNardo is unable to go deep into this contest. Closer Fernando Rodney is eligible to pitch again after serving a two-game suspension for throwing a ball into the stands at Tampa Bay on Sept. 4.