Tigers Vs. Angels Final Score: Detroit Takes Series Finale Over Los Angeles, 5-2

Detroit pitcher Max Scherzer came away victorious for the fourth consecutive start on Sunday afternoon from Comerica Park, as the hard-throwing right-hander struck out nine batters over seven innings in a 5-2 Tigers victory.

Once barely above .500 overall heading into the All-Star break (6-5), Scherzer has been one of baseball's most electric pitchers in the second-half with a 6-1 mark. He wasted little time running through a banged-up Angels lineup in Sunday's win. The 28-year-old righty has now fanned at least eight batters in every single start dating back to July 13, and may just be on his way toward winning an American League strikeout crown this year if he can keep this impressive streak going.

Offensively, outfielder Andy Dirks put forth a strong effort from the plate on Sunday while serving in Miguel Cabrera's usual No. 3 spot in the order, and put the Tigers on the scoreboard in the third inning with an RBI triple. Dirks finished 2-for-3 on the day with a pair of runs scored to bump his season average to .337, as the speedster continues to pay huge dividends when placed virtually anywhere in Jim Leyland's lineup.

Winners of five of their last six, the Tigers will head to Kansas City Tuesday for a three-game set with the Royals. Ace Justin Verlander will take the mound in hopes of one-upping Scherzer's strong outing.

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Tigers Vs. Angels Score Update: Detroit Adds 3 Runs In 6th Inning

Prince Fielder and Delmon Young hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-1 lead over the Los Angeles Angels.

Right fielder Andy Dirks was walked by Los Angeles pitcher Ervin Santana to lead off the sixth, and Fielder broke up a 1-1 tie with a two-run shot to right field. Next up to bat, Young homered to left center to add to the Tigers' lead.

Los Angeles was first on the board Sunday, scoring one run in the first inning by way of a Torii Hunter ground-out that scored Mike Trout from third base. The Tigers would knot it up at 1-1 with a Dirks triple to deep right that scored Omar Infante.

Max Scherzer got the start on the mound for the Tigers and through six innings had given up four hits and recorded nine strikeouts.

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Tigers Vs. Angels Lineups: Miguel Cabrera Gets Day Off In Series Finale

The Detroit Tigers will try to win the series finale today against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim without MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera in the lineup.

Cabrera, who has played as the designated hitter the last two games instead of third base after injuring his ankle on Thursday, has not missed a game this season. Check out the rest of the lineups below:

Tigers Lineup:

1. CF Austin Jackson (R)

2. 2B Omar Infante (R)

3. LF Andy Dirks (L)

4. 1B Prince Fielder (L)

5. DH Delmon Young (R)

6. RF Brennan Boesch (L)

7. SS Jhonny Peralta (R)

8. 3B Jeff Baker (R)

9. C Gerald Laird (R)

Angels Lineup:

1. CF Mike Trout (R)

2. 3B Maicer Izturis (S)

3. RF Torii Hunter (R)

4. DH Kendrys Morales (S)

5. 1B Mark Trumbo (R)

6. 2B Howie Kendrick (R)

7. SS Erick Aybar (S)

8. LF Vernon Wells (R)

9. C Chris Iannetta (R)

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Drew Smyly Will Stay With Detroit Tigers After Making Start Saturday

Detroit Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly will stay with the Detroit Tigers after he was recalled from Triple A Toledo in order to start for the injured Doug Fister Saturday, reports Jason Beck of MLB.com:

No roster move for #Tigers with Smyly. He'll stick around and pitch in bullpen if Doug Fister progresses as hoped.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) August 26, 2012

Reports yesterday indicated that the Tigers planned to send Smyly back to Toledo after his start and recall a relief pitcher, possibly either left-hander Duane Below or right-hander Luis Marte, who have both pitched for the team previously this season.

Fister is progressing in recovering from his injury and hopes to take his next turn in the rotation. Smyly (4-3, 4.22 ERA) has worked exclusively as a starter for the Tigers this season, starting 16 games and pitching 85.1 innings.

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Doug Fister Injury: Pitcher Appears 'On Track' To Make Start Against Chicago White Sox

Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister was originally scheduled to start last night's game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but a groin injury sustained in his last start caused him to be skipped in favor of Drew Smyly.

Chris Iott of MLive reports that Fister (7-8, 3.67 ERA) should be able to take his next scheduled turn, though, next Saturday in a series with the first place Chicago White Sox:

Fister felt good while going through an extensive workout and might be on track to make his next scheduled start, which would be Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.

"We're taking it day by day," Fister said. "My goal is to be ready for it. We've just got to not worry about that as much as what we've go to do today."

Iott reports the training staff would evaluate and work with Fister today, with a goal of him throwing off a mound early this week and then throwing a full side session later this week.

Fister sustained the injury in a start last Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Max Scherzer Looks To Continue Recent Dominance, Faces Ervin Santana

Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer (13-6, 4.27 ERA) who has won three straight starts, giving up two earned runs or fewer in each outing and striking out 26 batters in 20 innings, will face Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Ervin Santana (7-10, 5.46 ERA) in today's series finale at 1:05 p.m.

Santana has also pitched well lately, going 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA in four starts in August. He's faced Detroit once this season, taking a loss after giving up four runs (two earned) in six innings July 16. Scherzer beat the Angels on July 19, giving up one run and striking out nine batters in seven innings.

The Tigers rallied to win last night's game 5-3 after trailing 3-0 early. The team took the lead on an RBI-double by Jhonny Peralta in the eighth inning. The Angels won the first game of the series.

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Angels Vs. Tigers: Late Game Offense Gives Detroit 5-3 Win

Despite digging themselves into an early 3-0 hole, the Tigers got their offense going in time to beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Saturday night.

The Angels got the scoring started in the third inning with a solo home run from Vernon Wells that was followed by another run in the third inning when Howie Kendrick drove in Bobby Wilson. Erick Aybar kept the scoring going with a double in the fourth inning that brought home Kendrys Morales.

But strong sixth and eighth innings for the Tigers erased the deficit and gave the Tigers the lead that they managed to hold for the remainder of the game. A double from Jhonny Peralta in the eighth drove in two and gave the Tigers their first lead of the night.

Reliever Octavio Dotel earned the win for the Tigers to boost his record to 4-2 on the season.

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Detroit Likely To Recall A Relief Pitcher After Drew Smyly's Start Tonight

The Detroit Tigers only needed Drew Smyly for a spot start because of Doug Fister's injury, so once Smyly starts tonight's game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he'll be sent back to Triple-A Toledo to make room for a reliever, reports MLive's Chris Iott:

The Tigers are likely to send him back to Triple-A Toledo and recall a relief pitcher -- most likely either Duane Below or Luis Marte -- for the series finale against the Angels on Sunday.

The Tigers had previously sent down reliever Luke Putkonen to make room for Smyly on the roster. Both Below and Marte have pitched for the Tigers previously this season.

Below (2-1, 3.88 ERA), a left-hander, has made 27 appearances, striking out 29 in 46.1 innings. Marte (0-0, 3.63 ERA), a right-hander, has made 10 appearances, striking out 14 in 17.1 innings.

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Tigers Vs. Angels Lineups: Detroit lefty Drew Smyly Will Face Righty-Heavy Lineup

Detroit Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly (4-3, 4.42 ERA) makes his return to the starting rotation and will make his first start since July 6 against a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lineup that will all be hitting right-handed.

The Angels counter with right-hander Dan Haren (8-10, 4.90 ERA). Here are the team's lineups for Saturday's game, which starts at 7:05 p.m.

Tigers Lineup:

1. CF Austin Jackson (R)

2. 2B Omar Infante (R)

3. DH Miguel Cabrera (R)

4. 1B Prince Fielder (L)

5. LF Delmon Young (R)

6. RF Andy Dirks (L)

7. SS Jhonny Peralta (R)

8. C Alex Avila (L)

9. 3B Jeff Baker (R)

Angels Lineup:

1. CF Mike Trout (R)

2. RF Torii Hunter (R)

3. 2B Howie Kendrick (R)

4. 1B Mark Trumbo (R)

5. 3B Alberto Callaspo (R)

6. DH Kendrys Morales (S)

7. SS Erick Aybar (S)

8. LF Vernon Wells (R)

9. C Bobby Wilson (R)

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Drew Smyly Called Up To Pitch Saturday

The Tigers called P Drew Smyly (4-3, 4.41) up from Triple-A Toledo after Friday's game, replacing Doug Fister, who's still hampered by a strained groin. Smyly will start Saturday against the Angels' Dan Haren, who has been a difficult match-up for the Tigers recently.

Haren is 3-0 in his last three starts against Detroit, throwing two complete games, and putting up a 1.44 ERA in that span.

The Angels took a 2-1 victory over Detroit Friday, pushing the Tigers one game behind Oakland and Baltimore for the final AL wild card spot, and 2.5 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago.

Miguel Cabrera may DH his second consecutive game, if he is still bothered by an ankle injury that knocked him out of Thursday's win over Toronto. He is 3-for-13 against Haren in his last three outings against him.

The Angels are 2.5 games behind Detroit in the wild card standings and 8.5 games behind Texas in the AL West.

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Luke Potkonen Optioned To Toledo To Make Room For Drew Smyly

The Detroit Tigers needed to make a roster move to make room for tomorrow's starting pitcher, Drew Smyly, and MLive's Chris Iott reports they have optioned relief pitcher Luke Putkonen to Triple-A Toledo.

Putkonen had appeared in just one game since being recalled earlier this month, pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout in a loss to Baltimore on Aug. 19. He's 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in seven appearances for the Tigers this season.

Smyly (4-3, 4.42 ERA) is being recalled to replace injured starter Doug Fister in the rotation. Smyly has started 15 games for the Tigers this season, but this will be his first appearance since July 6. Smyly will face Dan Haren (8-10, 4.90 ERA).

Fister injured his groin in his start last Sunday.

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Miguel Cabrera Homers, But Tigers Lose 2-1

Zack Greinke (2-2, 5.22 ERA) gave up one run in 7.2 innings and struck out five in his best start since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim acquired him, helping the team beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 Friday.

Greinke held the Tigers scoreless until Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Cabrera also doubled. Those were Detroit's only extra base hits of the night and the Tigers collectively only had five hits.

Rick Porcello (9-9, 4.60 ERA) took the loss. He gave up two runs in six innings and struck out six. He has lost three straight starts despite going six innings and allowing four or fewer earned runs in each start.

The Angels scored both of their runs in the sixth. Maicer Izturis singled, Torii Hunter was hit by a pitch and Howie Kendrick drove both runners in with a double. Garrett Richards got two outs in the ninth to pick up his third save.

Drew Smyly (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts for the Tigers tomorrow against Dan Haren (8-10, 4.90 ERA).

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Albert Pujols Not In Los Angeles' Lineup

The Angels came out on top on Thursday over the Boston Red Sox in a 10-inning slugfest that featured 38 hits before the Angels finally won 14-13. Not in the lineup for that game, though, was Albert Pujols and he'll again be out when the Angels take on the Tigers on Friday night.

Pujols, the three-time NL MVP during his time with the Cardinals, was removed from Wednesday's game with a calf injury. Although no structural damage was found by an MRI, the first baseman is listed as day-to-day with the injury and is not going to be playing in game one of the three-game weekend series against the Tigers.

Both teams enter Friday's game on three-game winning streaks, with the Tigers in a tie for the second wild card spot in the AL.

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Miguel Cabrera In Lineup As DH

The Detroit Tigers open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday night, and Miguel Cabrera will be hitting in the No. 3 hole and starting as the team's DH. The Angels will send Zack Greinke (1-2, 6.19 ERA) to the mound, and the Tigers plan on countering with Rick Porcello (9-8, 4.67 ERA). Here is Detroit's complete lineup for Friday:

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Tigers Vs. Angels: Detroit Looking To Get Miguel Cabrera Back, Extend Winning Streak

The Tigers hope to extend their three-game winning streak as they open a series against the Angels in Detroit.