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Tigers-Dodgers Preview

May 22, 2010 - 6:43 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (24-18) at Los Angeles (24-18), 7:10 p.m. EDT

After a slow start, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in their accustomed spot - in first place in the NL West.

Another win Saturday night - their 12th in 13 games - could give them sole possession of that spot for the first time this season as they continue a home series against the Detroit Tigers.

The two-time defending NL West champions were at the bottom of the division on May 8 after a 13-17 start. An ensuing nine-game win streak helped the Dodgers (24-18) vault quickly up the standings and after a 10-5 loss to San Diego ended that run Wednesday, they've responded with back-to-back victories, including a 4-1 win in Friday night's opener of a three-game series.

Like most of its recent games, Los Angeles prevailed with strong pitching and put up zeros over the final eight innings against the Tigers (24-18), who had a season-low four hits.

That win helped the Dodgers, who have a 2.42 ERA in their last 12 games, tie San Diego atop the NL West. Rookie John Ely (2-1, 3.51 ERA) has played a part in that run by not issuing any walks to the past 84 batters he's faced - the longest current streak in the majors.

The 24-year-old right-hander gave up five runs over six innings in his debut April 28, a 7-3 loss in New York, but he has won consecutive starts and has a 2.29 ERA in his last three outings.

In Monday's 6-2 home win over Houston, Ely posted season highs for innings (seven) and strikeouts (eight) while allowing two runs and five hits.

"I'm just going out there with the same game plan - trying to throw strikes and keep the ball down," Ely said. "I'm a competitor and I hate giving in to guys, so I'm going to go at them. If they beat me, that's fine. But at least I know I went at them with my best stuff. I'm getting a little more confidence each time out and learning how to face different kinds of hitters."

The Tigers, meanwhile, will send out 28-year-old right-hander Armando Galarraga with a chance to rejoin Minnesota atop the AL Central.

Galarraga (1-0, 1.59) was called up Sunday from Triple-A Toledo after a struggling Max Scherzer was sent down. He threw five straight balls to open the game but allowed one run and three hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 5-1 victory over visiting Boston.

"If he pitches like that, he can pitch in the big leagues," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official website.

Galarraga pitched seven innings of a 5-0 victory in his only start against the Dodgers on June 13, 2008, but unlike his teammates in Friday's game, he'll likely have to face a red-hot Russell Martin.

The catcher, one of five regulars to get the night off in the win over the Tigers after 22 consecutive starts, is 18 for 59 (.305) during a career-long 15-game hitting streak.

That streak is the longest active run in the majors and is tied for the second longest this season behind Florida's Jorge Cantu's 17-game run. Martin was 1 for 3 against Galarraga in his 2008 win over the Dodgers.