Jacob Turner Gets His 2nd Start As A Tiger

TIME: 01:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Comerica Park

The Detroit Tigers have been struggling to get production from Austin Jackson all season, but he's been more than adequate in this series against the Kansas City Royals.

Jackson looks to complete a strong series for the AL Central-leading Tigers in Thursday's home finale of a four-game set.

Leadoff hitters for Detroit (75-61) are batting .242 for one of the worst marks in the majors, with the struggling Jackson batting first 116 times. He hit .292 and scored 103 runs as a rookie last season but is at .249 with 70 runs.

The center fielder is 7 for 14 with four runs in this series after going 4 for 4 in Wednesday's 5-4 victory. Jackson had four hits for the first time since Sept. 25.

"Austin had a great game for us - that's exactly what we want from him at the top of the order," manager Jim Leyland said. "When he's hitting, it is a really big tonic for our offense."

The Tigers lost Monday's opener 9-5 before rallying for one-run wins the next two days. Ramon Santiago delivered a game-ending homer in the 10th inning Tuesday in a 2-1 victory, and Wilson Betemit capped Detroit's three-run eighth Wednesday with a tiebreaking RBI double.

"People wonder why I play so many different lineups, but that's what you have to do when you want to win a division," Leyland said. "You don't win unless you get contributions from everyone, and you have to play them so that they are ready to make a play when you need them."

Miguel Cabrera is 6 for 12 in this series and 12 for 23 over his last six games.

Kansas City (56-81) fell to 4-5 entering the finale of a 10-game trip in which all the losses have been by one run.

"Every time you lose a one-run game, you hate it," manager Ned Yost said. "We had a two-run lead and we couldn't hold it in the eighth."

Rookie Eric Hosmer homered twice among his three hits Wednesday for the Royals. He's batting .378 during a nine-game hit streak.

Both managers intend to be careful with rookie starters Thursday.

Leyland will give 20-game winner Justin Verlander an extra day of rest so the ace can start Friday's opener of a critical series with Chicago.

Jacob Turner (0-1, 3.38 ERA), Detroit's top prospect, will make his second career start. The 20-year-old right-hander made his first start July 30 and allowed two runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 5-1 loss to Los Angeles.

Danny Duffy (3-8, 5.55) could be making his final start this year for the Royals. The 22-year-old left-hander is closing in on his limit of 150 total innings, including the minors.

Duffy went 0-4 with a 6.84 ERA in five starts in August. He yielded four runs over 5 1-3 innings Saturday and did not get a decision in an 8-7 loss at Cleveland.

Duffy is 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against the Tigers, who are 26-17 against left-handers.

He could face Tigers second baseman Carlos Guillen, activated from the disabled list Thursday. Guillen had been out since Aug. 14 with a sore wrist.

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