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Tigers, Indians open big three-game series

Jul 3, 2007 - 1:11 PM Cleveland (50-32) at Detroit (47-33) 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians begin an important American League Central Division three-game series on Tuesday.

In their last visit here from May 25-27, the Indians swept a three-game series. They are 5-2 overall against the Tigers this season. The Indians hold a two-game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central Division.

Paul Byrd (7-3, 4.67 ERA) goes to the hill for Cleveland, which has won five straight games. In his last start, Byrd gave up three runs and 10 hits in a 4-3 victory over Oakland on Thursday.

On May 25, Byrd beat Detroit, allowing four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. The righthander is 7-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 career starts against the Tigers.

Detroit sends lefthander Nate Robertson (4-6, 4.82) to the mound with the hopes of notching his first win since May 19. The lefthander is 0-3 in his last four starts.

In his first start since coming off the disable list, Robertson yielded one run and four hits in 5 1/3 frames in a no-decision against the Texas Rangers.