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Angels-Tigers Preview

Aug 7, 2010 - 4:56 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (54-56) at Detroit (53-55), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Much like the rest of his team, Scott Kazmir has endured a difficult season with the Los Angeles Angels.

The veteran left-hander hopes to turn things around and avoid a fifth straight loss when he is expected to come off the disabled list Saturday night to face the struggling Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

After spending almost a month on the DL with shoulder fatigue, Kazmir (7-9, 6.92 ERA) is set to make his first start since allowing a career-high 13 runs in five innings of a 15-1 loss at Oakland on July 10.

Kazmir had a 13.73 ERA while losing a career-high four consecutive starts before going on the DL, but said he felt great after a 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday.

"I'm prepared to go out there," Kazmir told the Angels' official website. "I'm very eager to go out and redeem myself, get a little confidence going. You want to almost accelerate the comeback and get out there again."

Kazmir is 3-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 starts against the Tigers but 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two this season. He will try to help the Angels (55-56) build on Friday's 4-2 win in this series opener.

Los Angeles had high hopes of winning the AL West for the fourth straight time but is quickly falling out of contention after losing 11 of 15. However, Maicer Izturis had three hits and Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer Friday as the Angels snapped a five-game skid against Detroit and three-game slide overall.

Hunter, who was ejected after being called out on strikes in the eighth inning, is 11 for 20 with two homers and six RBIs in his last five games. He is a lifetime .389 hitter against Jeremy Bonderman (6-6, 4.84), who looks to win his third straight decision while trying to help the Tigers (53-56) avoid a fourth consecutive loss Saturday.

The right-hander allowed a run in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-1 win over the White Sox in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday. He is 2-0 with a 4.94 ERA in his last four starts.

"Bondo is going to leave it all on the field no matter what he has or what he doesn't have," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official website.

Bonderman is 3-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 starts versus Los Angeles and has posted a 3.00 ERA while not receiving a decision in his two outings against the Angels in 2010.

Brennan Boesch had two hits including his 13th homer Friday for the Tigers, who are 5-18 since the All-Star break. The rookie outfielder is 10 for 84 in his last 22 games but 4 for 12 with two homers and six RBIs against the Angels this season.

Despite the Tigers' struggles of late, owner Mike Ilitch said Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski will retain their current jobs with the club in 2011.

"I'm staying with Dave and staying with our manager," Ilitch said.