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Tigers-Royals Preview

Jun 6, 2010 - 4:27 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (28-26) at Kansas City (23-33), 2:10 p.m. EDT

Miguel Cabrera has given the Detroit Tigers every opportunity to be a strong road team.

The Tigers, however, find themselves trying to win consecutive games away from Comerica Park for only the third time this season as they wrap up a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Despite a 12-16 record on the road, Detroit (29-26) has managed to remain in contention in the AL Central, trailing Minnesota by 3 1/2 games. The Tigers have not won more than two straight on the road this season.

Detroit ended a three-game road losing streak with a 4-2 win over Kansas City (23-34) on Saturday night.

Cabrera was a bright spot at the plate once again for the Tigers, hitting his 17th home run of the season. His .390 average and 33 RBIs on the road lead the majors.

"I think it is amazing for everybody, the talent and ability he possesses," said Tigers ace Justin Verlander, Saturday's winning pitcher. "We're around the best ballplayers in the world and he amazes us day in and day out. That's something pretty special. The guy does it day in and day out."

Cabrera also tops the majors in RBIs overall with 52. In his last 13 games, the four-time All-Star has nine home runs and 16 RBIs.

In 26 career road games versus the Royals, Cabrera is hitting .400 with nine homers and 29 RBIs.

Cabrera helped the Tigers get by Saturday without Magglio Ordonez, who was given a day off by manager Jim Leyland. Ordonez has also had a strong run on the road, hitting .429 with two homers, three triples and 10 RBIs over his last eight contests away from home.

Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 3.72 ERA), set to take the mound for Detroit, could certainly use some support from Cabrera and Ordonez. Bonderman is 1-2 over his last five starts despite posting a 1.85 ERA, getting two runs or fewer to work with in three of those outings.

The right-hander allowed three runs in eight innings of a 3-2 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night. It was the longest outing since 2007 for Bonderman, whose career had been in jeopardy due to a blood clot in his shoulder two years ago.

"He's been very good," Leyland said. "It looks like he's definitely healthy, knock on wood."

Bonderman is 9-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 16 starts versus the Royals.

Kansas City will counter with Brian Bannister (5-3, 4.73), who will try to win a fifth consecutive start for the first time in his career. The right-hander yielded three runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Bannister is 4-2 with a 2.12 ERA in eight starts against Detroit.

Kansas City couldn't take advantage of a strong start from Luke Hochevar in this series' middle contest. The Royals lost for the sixth time in eight games. They've scored two runs or fewer in five of those contests.

Kansas City cleanup hitter Billy Butler is batting .250 with two RBIs and one extra-base hit - a double - over his last 10 games.