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Red Sox-Tigers Preview

May 14, 2010 - 2:15 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (18-17) at Detroit (19-15), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have won each of their last three home series - all against 2009 playoff teams - and the club has a chance to complete an impressive run against some of the AL's elite this weekend.

The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, are still trying to prove they belong in that category this year, and they'll begin a challenging portion of their schedule Friday night in Detroit.

The Tigers (20-15) barely missed out on the postseason last year, losing a one-game playoff for the AL Central title at Minnesota.

But they went 5-1 against the first-place Twins and the Los Angeles Angels during their last homestand, then opened this one by taking three of four from the New York Yankees. The Red Sox were the other team to make the AL playoffs last year.

Starting pitching was a big reason for the Tigers' success against the Yankees, who hadn't been shut out all season before being blanked twice in Detroit.

"You can see that the starters are finally coming around," ace Justin Verlander said after Thursday's 6-0 win. "If we turn the corner, with the offense and the bullpen playing the way they are, this team is capable of anything."

While Detroit's bullpen leads the AL with a 2.56 ERA, Miguel Cabrera continues to anchor the Tigers' lineup, extending his hitting streak to 12 with a solo homer and a two-run double Thursday. Cabrera leads the AL in batting average (.376) and RBIs (36).

A pair of rookie outfielders have also boosted Detroit, with Brennan Boesch batting .368 with 16 RBIs in his first 16 games in the majors and leadoff man Austin Jackson hitting .345.

Max Scherzer (1-3, 6.81 ERA) hopes to contribute Friday. After posting a 2.63 ERA in his first four outings, he is 0-2 with a 14.54 ERA in his last three starts.

Scherzer's performance Sunday at Cleveland, where he gave up five runs in five innings of a 7-4 loss, was actually his best in that stretch.

"He was a little better," manager Jim Leyland said. "He threw a few more good changeups. He made a couple bad pitches, obviously."

Boston (18-17) will also have a 25-year-old right-hander on the mound in Clay Buchholz, who allowed season highs of six runs - five earned - and five walks in five innings of a 14-3 loss to the Yankees on Saturday.

Buchholz (3-3, 3.82) has been sharper on the road, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He has won his last six outings away from Fenway Park dating back to August, posting a 1.91 ERA.

The Red Sox will be trying to avoid a fourth straight road loss. They were swept in Baltimore from April 30-May 2, but they bounced back with a 7-3 homestand despite Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Toronto.

Not only does Boston play 11 of its next 13 on the road, but its next five series are against teams with winning records, including trips to New York, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.

"It will be a good test," outfielder J.D. Drew told the Red Sox's official website. "I think we're well cut out for it. We know what we've got to do."

Boston won its first six games against the Tigers last year, including a three-game sweep in Detroit from June 2-4, before Buchholz lost 2-0 at home Aug. 13. The Red Sox have won four in a row at Comerica Park.