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Indians-Tigers Preview

Jun 1, 2010 - 1:43 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Cleveland (18-30) at Detroit (26-23), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The end of May wasn't kind to the Detroit Tigers. It was even worse for the Cleveland Indians, and facing the Tigers at Comerica Park doesn't seem like the best way to start June in a positive way.

Cleveland will try to win for the second time in 12 road games against Detroit in Tuesday night's opener of a three-game series.

After reaching a season-high seven games over .500 on May 20, the Tigers (26-24) have dropped seven of nine - including three of four at home against Oakland this weekend.

Detroit has been inconsistent offensively over those nine games, scoring its only run in Sunday's 4-1 loss on Austin Jackson's pinch-hit infield single. The Tigers have scored 16 runs in their past two wins, highlighted by a 10-2 victory Saturday, and 17 in their last seven losses.

"We just aren't doing much offensively," manager Jim Leyland said. "We had the one pretty good game yesterday where we blew it open a little late, but no, we aren't doing much. That's an understatement."

That trend could change against the Indians (18-31), who have posted a 6.79 ERA while losing 11 of 14. They matched their season high for runs allowed twice while during a four-game road series with the New York Yankees this weekend.

Their three losses in that set include an 11-2 defeat Sunday in which all four Cleveland pitchers gave up at least two runs. Relievers Rafael Perez and Chris Perez both failed to record an out during a six-run seventh inning.

Indians hitters have also batted .233 over their last 14 games and could have a tough time against Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 3.78 ERA).

Bonderman had a 1.33 ERA during his five starts last month but earned only one win - May 20 in Oakland. He gave up one unearned run and five hits over seven innings Wednesday in Seattle, but the Mariners scored four runs in the eighth during a 5-4 win.

Bonderman opened the season by yielding one hit and one run in a 4-2 home victory over Cleveland on April 10.

His counterpart in Tuesday's game, Jake Westbrook (2-3, 4.78), has a 6.75 ERA in his last two starts and suffered his first loss in a month Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, allowing five runs over seven innings.

"It's frustrating," Westbrook told the Indians' official website. "I didn't make any big pitches when I needed to."

Westbrook is also 4-8 with a 6.38 ERA in 18 career starts against the Tigers, but the bullpen cost him a victory April 11 in Detroit as the Tigers rallied for six runs in the final three innings of a 9-8 win.

Detroit has won five of six meetings this season with the Indians, including a three-game home sweep April 9-11, and 18 of 22 since May 1, 2009.

Miguel Cabrera, who has six home runs in his last eight games, is 6 for 15 this season against the Indians. While the first baseman is 3 for 5 with one homer lifetime against Westbrook, he has only two homers in his last 22 games versus Cleveland.