- The red-hot Detroit Tigers try to make it a race in the AL Central this evening when they begin a critical three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.
Detroit has won five in a row and comes into tonight's matchup trailing the Tribe by 4 1/2 games. The Tigers also sit just 2 1/2 back of the New York Yankees in the wild card race.
On Sunday Detroit completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, defeating them 6-4 at the Metrodome. Jair Jurrjens (3-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Todd Jones escaped a bases-loaded ninth-inning jam to record his 300th career save in the win. Curtis Granderson homered for the Tigers, who have won eight of their last 10.
After this important series Detroit will close its schedule against the three bottom teams in the Central -- Minnesota, Kansas City and Chicago.
Getting the ball for the Tigers tonight will be left-hander Kenny Rogers, who is 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA this season. Rogers got his second straight no-decision since returning from the disabled list last Monday against Toronto, as he allowed two runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 frames of his team's 5-4 win.
Rogers defeated the Indians the last time he faced them and is 17-16 lifetime against them with a save and a 5.20 ERA in 56 games, 33 of which have been starts.
Cleveland, meanwhile, failed to reduce its magic number on Sunday, as it was denied a sweep in its three-game series with the lowly Royals, falling 4-3. Victor Martinez homered for the Indians, who lost for just the fifth time in 22 games and kept their magic number for clinching the division at nine.
Aaron Laffey (3-2) surrendered four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings en route to the loss.
The Indians will turn to veteran right-hander Paul Byrd, who has won five of his last six starts. Byrd picked up the win on Tuesday against Chicago, as he gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 frames to improve to 15-6 to go along with a 4.34 ERA.
Byrd has beaten the Tigers twice this season and is 8-2 in his career against them with a 3.45 ERA in 16 games (15 starts).
Cleveland has won nine of its 15 matchups with the Tigers this season after going 6-13 against them a year ago. The teams have also split the six matchups at Jacobs Field.
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