The Detroit Tigers (71-49) entered the 2013 season as the best team in the American League Central, and through 120 games their performance has backed that up. Still, the upstart Kansas City Royals (62-57) are doing their level best to hang on by a thread. Today, they will face off in a day-night doubleheader that can be live streamed here. Game 1 is set to start at 1:08 p.m.; Tigers fans can listen to the game on 97.1 The Ticket, while Royals faithful can hear the action on KCSP 610.
Kansas City is 8.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central standings, but have a golden opportunity to gain ground with these four games coming up. Starting the day off right might prove difficult though, with Justin Verlander (12-8, 3.57 ERA) on the hill for Detroit.
Verlander's season has been up and down, and he's been unable to rattle off any long streaks of dominance. In his last start against the offense-challenged Yankees, Verlander lasted seven innings and gave up four runs. He did, however, strike out nine Yankees while walking just one.
"It was a little bit frustrating," Verlander said. "A little bit inconsistent."
Verlander will be going up against Danny Duffy (0-0, 4.91 ERA), who appears overmatched going by their resumes. In Duffy's only start of the season he struck out seven Minnesota Twins but only made it through 3.2 innings due to a high pitch count.
In the second half of the twin-bill, the Royals get to put their ace, James Shields (7-8, 3.33 ERA), on display against the Tigers' vicious lineup. Shields has been a workhorse for the Royals this year, lasting six or more innings in 23 of his 25 starts.
He will need to be in top form to contain a lineup featuring the scariest hitter in the sport, Miguel Cabrera, and a first baseman in Prince Fielder who ended a long home run drought last night.
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