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Saunders, Angels trying to reach playoff form

Sep 2, 2008 - 12:47 PM LA Angels (83-53) at Detroit (66-71), 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- With the playoffs all but assured, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are just trying to prepare for the postseason and getting Joe Saunders back on track would be a big help.

Saunders attempts to avoid a third consecutive loss and pick up his first win in over a month when the Angels take on the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

The lefthander is coming off a pair of disappointing starts, surrendering 12 runs over seven innings with just one strikeout over that stretch. It was a horrid finish to a sub-par month.

Saunders (14-7, 3.67 ERA) posted an 0-2 record with a 6.93 ERA during August. He had won three games over the previous three months after winning five contests in April.

He will be opposed by rookie righthander Chris Lambert (0-1, 6.75), who is making just his second career start. Lambert surrendered six runs - two earned - over 2 2/3 innings during Thursday's 10-4 setback to the Cleveland Indians.

Detroit suffered a 13-9 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday, while Anaheim is coming off Sunday's 4-3 setback to the Texas Rangers.