Royals-Tigers Preview

An ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals last week started the Detroit Tigers on their longest losing streak of the season.

Detroit is hoping its most recent win is a precursor for a better effort against Kansas City this time.

Coming off a thrilling comeback victory, the Tigers look to turn the tables on the last-place Royals as the teams begin their final three-game series of the season Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Detroit (77-66) appeared to be on cruise control toward clinching the AL Central title last week when it visited Kauffman Stadium with a six-game winning streak.

The Tigers left Kansas City with a three-game skid, however, and dropped two upon returning home to Comerica against Toronto.

Though Detroit snapped its five-game losing streak Sunday, it seemed like the Blue Jays would make it three wins in four games in Monday's series finale, leading 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth. Aubrey Huff, though, hit a three-run homer to send the game to extra innings and Brandon Inge scored the winning run on a Toronto error in the 10th to give the Tigers a 6-5 victory.

"Every win means so much," Huff said after helping Detroit maintain its 5 1/2-game lead over Minnesota. "I've never been on a team where every game means so much. It's just a great time."

Jarrod Washburn (9-8, 3.60 ERA) was on the mound in Thursday's finale against the Royals (57-86), allowing three runs and seven hits over five innings but not receiving a decision in a 7-4 loss.

The left-hander has had a rough time in his first seven starts with Detroit, going 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA -- exactly four runs higher than his ERA in 20 starts with Seattle before he was traded July 31.

He's also been battling a sore left knee that forced the Tigers to skip his turn in the rotation the first week of September. Manager Jim Leyland called Washburn's outing against the Royals a "silver lining."

"I felt today the same way I have," Washburn told the Tigers' official Web site. "No different. No better. It is what it is. It's painful. I'll have to deal with it."

Washburn didn't seem to be experiencing any pain last month when he faced Kansas City at home. He gave up three singles over eight innings to the Royals on Aug. 14, but didn't get a decision as Detroit need an Inge walkoff homer to win 1-0.

In three starts this season against Kansas City, Washburn is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA.

The Royals' hottest hitter lately has been Billy Butler, who's batting .419 with two homers and 12 RBIs in his last seven games and was named the AL's player of the week. He had two RBIs Sunday in a 7-0 win at Cleveland, Kansas City's sixth win in seven games.

"It will help us going into the offseason," catcher John Buck, who homered in the victory, said of the Royals' hot streak.

Butler, a career .335 hitter in 43 games against Detroit, is batting .214 off Washburn.

Robinson Tejeda (2-1, 3.21) has been in Kansas City's bullpen all season, but his September audition in the rotation couldn't be going much better. He hasn't given up a run in either start, most recently blanking the Tigers on three hits over six innings Wednesday while striking out eight in a 5-1 win.

"I think I still have a long time in my career," Tejeda said. "If I can just finish as a starter, I'm going to be very happy and proud."