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Indians, Tigers search for strong finishes to lost seasons

Sep 19, 2008 - 10:21 AM Detroit (71-80) at Cleveland (75-77) 7:05 p.m. EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- When the schedule came out over the winter, this weekend's series between the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers was circled by many as a potential battle for the American League Central crown.

Well, that's why they play the games.

The only thing the Tigers and Indians will be battling for this weekend is who gets to finish in third place behind the Chicago White Sox (84-68) and Minnesota Twins (83-70).

Cleveland started the season slow offensively, getting little production from middle-of-the-order bats Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. The Indians gave up on the season in early July when, in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, they traded ace CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Detroit lost its first seven games of the season and never gained much traction. The offense, which ranks fifth in the majors in runs scored, was never supported by a pitching staff that ranks 27th in ERA.

The Tigers will send one of their few bright spots to the mound on Friday in rookie Armando Galarraga (12-6, 3.58 ERA). The righthander gained some Rookie of the Year traction after dropping his ERA to 3.17 on August 31, but a pair of poor starts have likely ended that campaign.

The 26-year-old has made four starts against Cleveland this season, going 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA.

The Indians will counter with righthander Fausto Carmona (8-7, 5.16). A big part of the team's lost season, Carmona spent two months on the disabled list with an oblique injury and has yet to regain the form that saw him post a 19-8 record with a 3.06 ERA last season.

The 24-year-old Dominican native has allowed seven runs in each of his last two starts.