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Tigers-Indians Preview

Sep 29, 2010 - 2:24 AM Detroit (80-76) at Cleveland (66-91), 7:35 p.m. EDT

With the Tigers having long been out of the playoff race, the only question in Detroit was whether Miguel Cabrera would win AL MVP.

Now that could be in jeopardy in the final week of the season.

Two days after Cabrera suffered a likely season-ending right ankle injury, the Tigers conclude a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians with a doubleheader Wednesday.

Cabrera has struggled all season in Cleveland, hitting .217 at Progressive Field, but Monday's game has the potential to end a career-best year on a sour note.

The first baseman left a 6-3 loss in the seventh inning when he landed awkwardly while trying to get back to first base on a pickoff attempt. He limped from the field and was in a walking boot before Tuesday's game, which was postponed due to rain.

Cabrera said he hopes to play in at least one of the remaining six games, but manager Jim Leyland wasn't nearly as optimistic.

"He's not too good," Leyland said. "He's hurting. I'm not expecting too much too soon."

It's bad timing for the MVP candidate, who had four homers and eight RBIs in his previous six games. Cabrera tops the majors with 126 RBIs and is among the AL leaders with 38 home runs and a .328 batting average.

The Tigers (80-76) will try to bounce back after Monday's loss in which Travis Hafner, Matt LaPorta and Luke Carlin all homered in the fifth inning for Cleveland. Detroit had won eight of nine coming in, averaging 7.4 runs, but has been outscored 34-15 while losing six straight at Progressive Field.

The Indians (66-91) have scored 24 runs during a four-game winning streak, their longest since a season-best six-game run July 16-20. They'll try to keep it up in the first game against Max Scherzer (12-10 3.40 ERA), who has won his last two starts.

Scherzer gave up two hits in 7 2-3 scoreless innings of a 4-2 win over Kansas City last Wednesday, lowering his ERA over his last 11 starts to 1.93.

"He very well could be the best pitcher in our league right now," Tigers designated hitter Johnny Damon said.

However, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts against the Indians this season, going 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in two at Cleveland.

Mitch Talbot (9-13, 4.61) will counter for the Indians, looking to avoid a third straight loss.

On Thursday, he pitched for the first time since Sept. 12 when he left in the first inning because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Talbot gave up three runs in five innings of a 4-2 loss to the Royals.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the Tigers this season.

Justin Verlander (18-8, 3.31), who has a 1.64 ERA in winning his last four outings, is scheduled to make his final start of the year in the nightcap with an opportunity to match his career high for wins, set last season.

Verlander, who has never won five consecutive starts, is coming off his second straight complete game, allowing an unearned run and four hits in Friday's 10-1 win over Minnesota. The right-hander struck out 11 to become the first Tiger to strike out 200 batters in consecutive seasons since Jack Morris in 1987-88.

Verlander, 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA in seven starts since losing to New York on Aug. 17, allowed one run and seven hits in eight innings of an 8-1 win over the Indians on Aug. 22. He is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in four starts in Cleveland since the start of last season.

Rookie Josh Tomlin (5-4, 4.50) looks to build on a strong outing when he opposes Verlander.

After being tagged for a career-high six runs in a 6-4 loss in Kansas City on Sept. 19, Tomlin allowed three runs and four hits in his first complete game, a 7-3 win over the Royals on Friday. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out a career-best six while throwing 112 pitches.

Tomlin struggled in his lone start against the Tigers, giving up five runs and seven hits in six innings of a 5-2 loss at Comerica Park on Aug. 21.