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Verlander goes for second straight solid start vs. Angels

Apr 27, 2008 - 1:35 PM LA Angels (15-10) at Detroit (11-14) 8:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - Justin Verlander will attempt to turn in his second solid outing in a row when the Detroit Tigers host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.

Verlander (1-3, 5.93 ERA) started the season - like most of his teammates - in poor form, going 0-3 over his first four starts while compiling a 7.03 ERA and walking 12 batters in 24 innings.

But the 25-year-old righthander seemed to turn the corner Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, allowing one run and six hits in six innings to earn his first win of the season.

Verlander's recent success mirrors Detroit's turnaround. After beginning the season 2-10, the Tigers have won nine of their past 14 contests.

Detroit picked up the win Saturday, getting a solid effort from starter Armando Galarraga and a late rally to pull to a 6-4 victory. After the Angels tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, the Tigers responded in kind in the bottom of the frame, getting RBI from Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez and Jacque Jones.

Anaheim will send Jered Weaver (1-3, 4.50) to the mound Sunday. The righthander has struggled of late, going 0-2 over his last three starts while yielding 24 hits and 12 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings.

Weaver has been terrible in his career against the Tigers, allowing 13 runs - 11 earned - and 18 hits in seven total innings over two starts.