PREGAME: A sleepy Tigers team landed in Kansas City at 5:56 a.m. ET this morning. The Tigers even got to use fly Red Bird One despite the fact Red Wings are in the playoffs.

Hopefully they’ll wake up in time to face Zach Greinke. They’ll try to do something that hasn’t been done against Greinke this year and that is score a run. He’s pitched 20 scoreless innings this year fanning 26 and walking only 5.

The Tigers will send out Rick Porcello who likely caught an earlier ride than the rest of the team. He is coming off his first win and has certainly drawn a tough match-up.

Game Time 8:10

Detroit vs. Kansas City – April 24, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: The Tigers lost back-to-back games for the first time since the first 2 games of the season. I’m not going to fret too much about this one, just give credit where it is due. Greinke was masterful. That happens. It also highlights how disappointing Thursday night’s game against a struggling pitcher was.

The only other thing of note is that Nate Robertson made an appearance, his first in 2 weeks. Hard to believe he was a little rusty.

PREGAME: It’s the rubber match! Again, the exclamation point isn’t necessary but it worked in the 3rd game against the Mariners so I figured I’d stick with it. Is anyone else tired? Back to back nights of late games have left me exhausted, but I’m a gamer and the Tigers head somewhat East after the game to reasonable start times.

Edwin Jackson takes the mound for Detroit. He’s been efficient in his first few starts. The Angels have forced Tigers starters to throw a ton of pitches in the first 2 games. What will happen tonight?

The Angels send out rookie Matt Palmer who was recently called up to bolster the decimated pitching staff. He walked 13 in 12.2 innings for the Giants last year. The Angels hope he can do a little better tonight and perhaps give the bullpen a break.

Your Tigers lineup is:

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Guillen, DH
6. Inge, 3B
7. Anderson, LF
8. Treanor, C
9. Everett, SS

Game Time 10:05

Detroit vs. LA Angels – April 23, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

PREGAME: Tonight it will be lefty Joe Saunders taking on Justin Verlander. Verlander is coming off a remarkable start in Seattle where he was pretty much untouchable except for an awful 5th inning. Still, his velocity, command, and breaking ball were encouraging.

Saunders has only fanned 7 batters in 20.2 innings with 6 walks and 2 HBPs but he’s posting a nice 2.18 ERA because he’s only allowed 13 hits so far.

The Tigers will send out:

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, DH
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Guillen, LF
6. Laird, C
7. Inge, 3B
8. Raburn, RF
9. Everett, SS

Game Time 10:05

Detroit vs. LA Angels – April 22, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: This probably deserves a more thorough analysis, but I have to be at my day job in 5 hours. So this is what you get:

• Verlander not so good. The Angels worked him like they did Galarraga the night before. Of course they had help in the form of Ryan Raburn who totally botched two plays (and minorly botched a third). Some of those runs should have been unearned but a disappointing Verlander outing regardless.
• Rincon allowed a run, and on that run he didn’t do too bad. It was a chop infield single and a double on a nice pitch. But then a wild pitch and 2 walks later I had lost all sympathy.
• The top of the order really got it going with the top 5 being on base 14 times
• Angels have the most generous scorer ever. It’s kind of a joke really
• Adam Everett had 3 “hits” and played some nice defense.
• The big rally in the 7th was bizarre. Hits went exactly where they needed to go, including another en-Inge-matic hit where he dribbles it somewhere and it results in runs.
• Rodney didn’t really struggle, but the 9th was way too interesting. An infield hit, a double play, a couple bloop singles, a well hit double a wild pitch and then it was over. Good night.

PREGAME:  There’s a lot going on tonight for Detroit sports fans. You’ve got the Red Wings against Columbus. The Detroit Pistons against the Cavs. Dontrelle Willis is starting for Lakeland. Joel Zumaya is pitching for Toledo. And oh yeah, the Tigers play after all of them in Orange County.

Prior to the season this series looked to be the toughest part of this 3 city trip. But bad fortune has been following the Angels around. John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar, and Vladimir Guerrero are on the DL. On top of all that there was the tragic loss of Nick Adenhart. The result is a struggling team that has lost most of its rotation (and is looking all over for help) and a lineup that lost its biggest threat. I’m not saying this will be an easy series, but the Angels have faced several seasons worth of adversity.

On the mound tonight will be Jered Weaver and Armando Galarraga. Both pitchers are off to solid starts. According to his pitch f/x data Weaver throws a 5 pitch repertoire that he mixes fairly well. In 2 games he has 10 Ks and 4 BB’s and allowed 2 homers. Galarraga has pitched so well I’m a little nervous to comment on it for fear of jinxing it.

Feel free to comment on any of the above games in this space (and please do, I’ll be in a meeting for a lot of it).

Game Time 10:05

Detroit vs. LA Angels – April 21, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: Well that wasn’t the least bit satisfying. Armando Galarraga wasn’t good, but somehow managed to limit the damage to 3 runs while lasting 5 innings. Despite not having his good stuff he gave his team a chance to win. Curtis Granderson hit well, Carlos Guillen hit well, but not enough hits could get bunched together.

Especially frustrating was the 9th inning that saw a leadoff single wasted when pinch hitter Adam Everett couldn’t get a bunt down and Josh Anderson was picked off. I was pretty upset that Thames wasn’t hitting in that situation, but Ian pointed out that Marcus Thames just hit the DL (that’s a Jason Beck tweet).

Too tired to say more, but this was disappointing to say the least.

Oh, and I’m not blaming the loss on this so this isn’t a sour grapes thing, but that was some horrendous home plate umpiring by Timmons. Astoundingly awful. The whole game, both teams.