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Indians Vs. Tigers: Cleveland Limps Into Series With Red-Hot Detroit

Cleveland will call upon Ubaldo Jimenez to stop the surging Detroit Tigers, and to stop the Indians' free-fall in the AL Central standings.

By David Vranicar
July 19, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez (30) reacts in the dugout after he pitched the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
July 19, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez (30) reacts in the dugout after he pitched the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The Cleveland Indians will call upon Ubaldo Jimenez to stop the surging Detroit Tigers, and to stop the Indians' free-fall in the AL Central standings.

For all his troubles this season, Jimenez, 8-9 with a 5.24 ERA, has been stellar against the Tigers. He is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Detroit.

Jimenez might have to repeat those performances for Cleveland to win Tuesday. The Tigers are 8-2 over their last 10 and have now assumed the top spot in the AL Central. It doesn't help Cleveland that Detroit's Tuesday starter, Doug Fister, appears to have returned to form. After battling injuries in the first half of the season, Fister is 2-0 since the All-Star break, striking out 18 batters in 15 innings.

Cleveland is four games back of the Tigers and three games back of the second-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 Eastern.

For more on the Detroit Tigers, check out Bless You Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main MLB hub at Baseball Nation.

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Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.