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Sabathia, Indians face Verlander, Tigers

May 26, 2007 - 1:47 PM Cleveland (29-17) at Detroit (29-18) 3:55 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia will take the mound for the Cleveland Indians, who are looking to extend their slim lead in the American League Central when they take on the second-place Detroit Tigers in the middle game of a three-game set on Saturday.

In the series opener Casey Blake and Victor Martinez blasted homers in the first inning to lead the Indians to a 7-4 victory over the Tigers in a battle of the top two teams in the AL Central.

Cleveland regained a one-half lead over Detroit in the division to secure just its fourth win in its last 11 games at Comerica Park.

Sabathia (6-1, 3.51 ERA) has been impressive this season but has had some troubles against the Tigers in his career, especially last campaign.

The lefthander, who is 10-7 against Detroit all time, failed to beat the Tigers in 2006. He posted a 2.45 ERA in three outings but received just one run of support in those contests.

In his last outing, Sabathia allowed one run and eight hits in five innings but left after 92 pitches and did not figure in the decision in a 5-2 vs. Seattle on Monday.

He will be opposed by another young ace, Justin Verlander (5-1, 2.68), who is aiming to become the first Detroit pitcher to win five games in month since August 2002. He is coming off his longest outing of the season, tossing eight innings and allowing two runs and five hits in a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last Monday.

The hard-throwing righthander, who won the AL Rookie of the Year award last season, was 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA against Cleveland last campaign.