Tune in at 7:05 PM ET as the Tigers take on the Indians. Ian Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Good evening, everyone! It looks like there's some rain down at Progressive Field, so the start of tonight's Tigers/Indians game will be delayed.
Word is that the tarp just came off the field at Progressive, and the new start time for this evening will be 7:30pm.
So it looks like there will in fact be baseball in Cleveland tonight, we'll just have to wait a little longer for it. So things will get underway in just under 30 minutes.
It's a very important AL Central matchup this evening as the first place Detroit Tigers take on the second place Cleveland Indians. The Tigers share the division lead with the Chicago White Sox, with the Indians just 4 games back of both teams.
Here are your starting lineups for tonight:
Detroit Tigers (53-45)
Jackson CF
Berry LF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Young DH
Boesch RF
Avila C
Santiago 2B
Infante SS
SP: Justin Verlander (11-5, 2.42 ERA)
Cleveland Indians (49-49)
Choo RF
Cabrera SS
Kipnis 2B
Brantley CF
Santana C
Hafner DH
Lopez 3B
Kotchman 1B
Duncan LF
SP: Zach McAllister (4-2, 3.21 ERA)
@c_argento818 Verlander for the Tigers and McAllister for the Indians.
Justin Verlander has once again been a workhorse for the Detroit Tigers, as he's pitched at least 6 innings in all of his 20 starts this season. In fact, Verlander is riding a 62 game streak dating back to August 22nd 2010 in which he's thrown at least 6 innings.
Verlander is a veritable who's who among many of the AL leaders in pitching, as he ranks 1st in opponent's batting average (.193), leads in hits per 9 innings (6.24) and is tied for 2nd in strikeouts (142).
Since being moved into the Indians rotation on May 7th, Zach McAllister has been a very serviceable option as the fifth starter. He's pitched into the 6th inning in all of his 9 starts this season, and McAllister has allowed more than 3 earned runs on just one occasion in 2012.
@Lucho Should be underway in just a few minutes. McAllister is just taking his warmup tosses right now.
Zach McAllister makes his 10th start on the season this evening at Progressive Field for the Indians. This will be McAllister's third career start against the Tigers, but he has not picked up a decision against Detroit in those starts.
Jackson, Berry and Cabrera have taken some bats and are taking some hacks in the on-deck circle.
And here we go! A little rain-delayed, but a game nonetheless. Austin Jackson leads it off for the Tigers.
Jackson has been swinging a hot bat as of late, hitting .332 over his last 58 games.
On the payoff pitch, Austin Jackson hits a slow-roller up the third base side. The ball dies a bit on the wet grass, so Lopez tries to make the play at first and has no chance to get Jackson.
Jackson moves up to second base, as Lopez is charged with the error. Jackson is awarded the infield single.
Quentin Berry steps in, and since being called up on May 23rd, he ranks second among rookies with 33 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Berry with a few bunt attempts, then holds off on the 1-1 pitch and it's down and away. 2-1 count.
Zach McAllister gets Quinten Berry swinging on the high fastball, that's the first out of the came. Makes way for Miguel Cabrera.
Right now Miguel Cabrera leads the majors with 128 hits total, 82 RBI's and 227 total bases. He very quietly is putting together another MVP-esque season.
Cabrera takes a big whiff on the 2-1 changeup by McAllister, and comes up with nothing. Now evened up at 2-2.
Back to back strikeouts now for McAllister, another changeup in the dirt and he strikes out Cabrera swinging. Two down.
Prince Fielder wastes no time in the at bat, goes after the first pitch and pokes a single through the shift on the left side. That scores Jackson easily from second base, and Detroit goes up 1-0.
The DH Delmon Young has a runner on base, two men out. It's a 2-01 count on him.
@Stuart Nairn If you asked me a month ago, I probably would've said no. But now, I'd say they're the favourite to win the division. I get the feeling like the White Sox might not keep this us.
Delmon Young keeps the rally going, he draws the two-out walk against Zach McAllister.
Brennan Boesch with two men on and two men out. He's in a hitter's count at 2-1.
Zach McAllister running into a bit of trouble here as he's approaching 30 pitches in his very first inning.
Brennan Boesch bounces one to Indians first baseman Casey Kotchman, he gloves it and steps on the bag for the final out of the 1st.
Due up for the hometown Tribe in the bottom of the frame: it's Choo, Cabrera and Kipnis.
Wow, Shin-Soo Choo attacks the first pitch and drives it to the centre field wall! Nearly goes deep, but it comes up short a few feet, but picks up the double.
Asdrubal Cabrera keeps the aggressiveness going, swings at the first pitch as well. Hits it to second base, and is retired. That moves Choo up to third base.
Jason Kipnis sends another ball to the deep part of the ballpark, this time to the rain soaked warning track in left field. Plenty deep to score Choo, and the game is tied at 1-1.
Michael Brantley ends the 1st with a fly ball out to centre field, as the Indians pound three balls to the outfield this inning versus Verlander. On to the 2nd!
Coming to the plate here in the 2nd for Detroit, it's Avila, Santiago and Infante.
Avila's power in his bat has been zapped so to speak over the past few months, as he only has 1 home run since May 23rd.
And the drought continues as Zach McAllister strikes out Alex Avila there to start off the 2nd.
Santiago hits a ball up the middle, and the Gold Glover Asdrubal Cabrera makes a great play to knock down the ball. But his throw pulls Casey Kotchman off the bag, and Santiago is called safe.
