Down by 5.5 games in the AL Central race, a banged-up Detroit Tigers squad can't afford to fall much further off the pace during a dangerous stretch of interleague games. And after taking the second of two games with the Reds at Great American Ball Park, the Tigers remain in a prime position to walk away with a series victory in ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball marquee game.
Getting the ball for Detroit will be rookie left-hander Drew Smyly, who has come back to Earth after bursting onto the scene with a string of impressive starts in April and May. Smyly will face a Reds lineup that has racked up 21 hits against Detroit pitchers over the last two games alone, and also happens to feature last year's NL MVP in Joey Votto, a man who is currently hitting .362 with 38 RBI.
Instead of keeping slugging outfielder Brennan Boesch in the lineup to add power, manager Jim Leyland will utilize Austin Jackson and Quintin Berry in the 1-2 spots respectively for the first time all season in an effort to keep as much speed as possible on the basepaths. Berry's impressive stint as Jackson's fill-in clearly proved that he's more than just a fill-in player, and the Tigers would be wise to keep riding the 27-year-old outfielder's bat while it's still hot.
Here are Sunday's starting lineups for both teams:
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Quintin Berry - RF
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Delmon Young - LF
6. Ramon Santiago - SS
7. Gerald Laird - C
8. Danny Worth - 2B
9. Drew Smyly - SP
Reds
1. Zack Cozart - SS
2. Chris Heisey - CF
3. Joey Votto - 1B
4. Brandon Phillips - 2B
5. Jay Bruce - RF
6. Ryan Ludwick - LF
7. Todd Frazier - 3B
8. Devin Mesoraco - C
9. Homer Bailey - SP
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