Tigers, Blue Jays play two at Comerica

Baseball Betting Lines

07/25/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Due to the postponement of the contest on Friday, the fans at Comerica Park will get a double dose of baseball this afternoon when the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays wrap up their four-game series with a traditional doubleheader.

Taking the hill for Detroit in the opening matchup with be Jeremy Bonderman.

Earlier in his career Bonderman was considered the ace of Detroit, but the emergence of Justin Verlander, and more importantly a rash of injures have left the veteran right-hander surrounded by question marks.

The 2010 campaign has been an inconsistent nightmare for Bonderman, who is just 5-6 with a 4.98 earned run average. The last time the Washington native was on the hill, he was pounded by Texas, allowing five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. However, despite the lackluster showing, Bonderman did not factor in the 8-6 setback.

This will be the ninth career start for Bonderman against Toronto and his 11th appearance overall. During that span, Bonderman has performed well against the AL East foe, notching a 2-2 mark with a solid 3.00 earned run average.

Brett Cecil is one of the many young pitchers for the Blue Jays, but like most young arms Cecil has dealt with some bumps in the road this year. In fact, the southpaw has just one victory in his last six matchups.

The last time the 24-year-old was on the mound he limited Kansas City to just three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Cecil, who saw his ERA rise to 3.99 on the season, also walked three batters in the 5-4 loss to Kansas City.

Cecil, who is 5-3 in 10 road starts this season, will be meeting the Blue Jays for the first time in his brief career.

In the night cap, the Tigers will look towards Armando Galarraga, who has gone winless in his last three starts. The right-hander has won just twice in his last 10 outings, and one of those victories was the infamous near perfect game.

The last time the 28-year-old was on the hill he tossed 7 1/3 innings against Texas, but surrendered four runs on nine hits, en route to an 8-0 loss. It was the first loss at home for Galarraga, who is now 2-1 with an impressive 2.98 earned run average in seven games at Comerica Park.

Galarraga has enjoy success against Toronto in his career, posting a 2-0 mark with an equally impressive 2.30 earned run average.

The Blue Jays will turn to Jesse Litsch, who is coming off his first victory of the season. Litsch, who was activated from the disable list on June 9 went winless in his first six outings before leading Toronto to a win over Kansas City on July 20.

In the victory over the Royals, the right-hander allowed just one run on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Even though the victory came on the road, the Florida native is just 1-3 outside of Toronto, with an even worse 8.00 earned run average.

In two career starts against Detroit Litsch is 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA.

On Saturday, Jose Bautista knocked in two runs to back a solid outing from Shaun Marcum as Toronto clipped Detroit, 3-2. Vernon Wells drove in the other for the Blue Jays, who snapped a two-game slide.

Marcum (9-4) yielded eight hits and a pair of runs over 5 2/3 frames, fanning five with one walk to register his third win in four starts. Kevin Gregg pitched a scoreless ninth for his 22nd save.

Miguel Cabrera had two hits and drove in a run for the Tigers, who lost slugger Magglio Ordonez to a fractured right ankle and second baseman Carlos Guillen to a leg injury.

Ordonez was taken for evaluation, and the team later announced he'd be out 6- to-8 weeks while recovering.

Rick Porcello (4-8) gave up five hits and three runs with four walks over six innings in defeat for Detroit, which has dropped eight of its last 10 games.

Toronto prevailed in five of eight encounters with the Tigers last season, with the clubs splitting a four-game set in the Motor City from September 11-14.