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The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees will open a three-game weekend series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. With expectations high for both clubs coming into this season, the two teams will be limping into the series under less than ideal circumstances.
Losers of four-straight, the Tigers will look to record their first win since last Saturday. However, they will have to do so without outfielder Delmon Young. After getting into an altercation outside his hotel room early Friday morning and being charged with a hate crime related assault, he will not be available Friday night.
Here is the Tigers projected lineup:
4/27 Lineup vs NYY: Jackson CF, Boesch RF, Cabrera 3B, Fielder 1B, Kelly LF, Eldred DH, Avila C, Peralta SS, Raburn 2B. Verlander P.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 27, 2012
The Yankees are struggling a bit themselves lately (albeit without the legal problems). After winning four straight, New York will look to end a two-game losing streak on Friday.
Here is the Yankees projected lineup:
Lineup vs DET: Jeter SS, Granderson CF, A-Rod DH, Cano 2B, Teixeira 1B, Swisher RF, Ibanez LF, Chavez 3B, Martin C, Nova P
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 27, 2012
Tigers' ace, Justin Verlander is the projected starter and is expected to face Ivan Nova. Verlander is 2-1 this year with a no-decision and has a microscopic ERA of 1.72 with 31 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched. Nova has won all three of his starts this season and has posted a 3.79 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.
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