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Tigers hope to continue Kauffman dominance vs. Royals

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:19 AM Detroit (63-65) at Kansas City (55-73) 7:10 p.m. EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers don't seem to have much trouble at Kauffman Stadium. The Tigers will be looking to improve their record here to 20-6 since the beginning of the 2006 season when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

The Tigers lost the first six games of the season to the Royals but have taken the last four by a combined 37-9, with all four games coming at Kauffman.

Detroit picked up a 4-3 win on Friday behind a pair of homers by Miguel Cabrera, who is batting .314 with 11 omers and 42 RBI in 34 games since the All-Star break.

Kansas City will have even less of a home field advantage for the rest of the season, as a $250 million renovation project has cut the seating from 40,600 to under 27,000.

Kyle Davies (5-4, 4.71 ERA) will get another chance for the Royals. The 24-year-old righthander has been bouncing back-and-forth between the minors and the majors for the past four seasons - the last two in Kansas City.

Davies was optioned to Class AAA Omaha on August 15 after allowing six runs, 12 hits and nine walks in 7 1/3 innings over his past two starts. But injuries to Luke Hochevar and Ron Mahay have forced the Royals to give the righthander another chance. He lasted four innings in a loss to the Tigers on July 22.

Detroit will counter with converted reliever Zach Miner (6-4, 3.94). The righthander was crushed Sunday by the Orioles, allowing five runs and six hits while walking four in 1 1/3 innings, though he did not factor in the decision.

Miner pitched six scoreless innings against Kansas City in his first start of the season on July 21 and is 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA since moving into the rotation.