Doug Fister News

Detroit enters play on Friday trailing the upstart Cleveland Indians by a half game.

Madhavan Thevar, a third-grader at Highmeadow Elementary in Farmington Hills, is the first "Paws for Applause'' winner of the 2013 baseball season.

The Tigers splashed past the Cleveland Indians 11-7 on Wednesday night to complete a two-game sweep of the first-place Tribe.

Murphy put Texas ahead for good with a drive just over the wall in right field in the sixth inning, and the Rangers spoiled the second three-homer game of Cabrera's career with an 11-8 victory on Sunday night.

Miguel Cabrera homered, Doug Fister pitched seven impressive innings and Andy Dirks gave the Tigers a lift for a second straight night in Detroit's 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Series: Tigers vs. Minnesota, four games, Thursday-Sunday, Comerica Park. TV/radio: Thursday - 7:08; FSD, WXYT-AM ; Friday - 7:08; FSD, WXYT-FM , WXYT-AM; Saturday - 4:08; FSD, WXYT-AM; Sunday - 1:08; FSD, WXYT-AM/FM. Pitching: Thursday - RH Rick Porcello vs.

The Detroit Tigers will have their ace on the mound tonight against the Cleveland Indians.

David Murphy stroked a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth and the Texas Rangers won a slugfest, 11-8, over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the finale of a four-game set.

There were all kinds of things about the four-game series with the Detroit Tigers - the best offense in baseball - that should stand out for the Texas Rangers after the Rangers took three of the four games in Arlington.

Miguel Cabrera never had a night like this last season when he won baseball's first Triple Crown in 45 years.

After reviewing the first quarter performance of the offense, we found that while some players are over-performing and others under-performing, on balance the Tigers are scoring a lot of runs and should continue the pace.

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera slaps the hand of third-base coach Tom Brookens on the way to the plate, after hitting a three-run homer during the third inning.

Doug Fister delivers a pitch April 21 in the final game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.

"I thought Porcello was as good as I've ever seen him," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

With the one-quarter mark of the 2013 season approaching, the Detroit Tigers have reinforced the fans' offseason hype that they are a strong World Series contender.

And fittingly, the opener features two of the premier pitchers - Tigers ace Justin Verlander , who has led the American League in strikeouts three of the past four seasons, against Rangers ace Yu Darvish , who leads all major league pitchers in strikeouts this season and is among the leaders in victories.

Andy Dirks follows through on an RBI double to right field Tuesday night in a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.

Welcome to the RETURN of our two-minute drill, which will give you a snapshot of what's going on with the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Spartans and Wolverines each day.

MLB Team Report - Houston Astros - INSIDE PITCH For a man who quotes himself in his locker room and spent his team's first road game this season doing pregame pushups along the dirt warning track at Seattle's Safeco Field , learning how to live as a member of the 2013 Houston Astros has become the biggest challenge of Bo Porter's career.

What's the he best prescription for a losing streak? A series against the woeful Houston Astros.