VENUE: Citi Field
Justin Verlander has been very valuable for the Detroit Tigers this month. Finishing June with a nine-game road trip that includes series against two of the best home teams in baseball, however, could challenge the recent success of the team and its top starter.
Verlander looks to get Detroit's trip off to a strong start Tuesday night when he takes the mound opposite Jonathon Niese and the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Verlander (8-4, 3.54 ERA) has posted a 2.86 ERA while winning each of his three June starts after compiling a 5.02 ERA in losing his last two May outings. The right-hander was terrific again Wednesday, allowing three runs while striking out a season-high 11 in eight innings of an 8-3 win over Washington.
"I've caught some good pitchers, and for starting pitchers, he's got to be right up there at the top," catcher Gerald Laird told the team's official website. "The main thing is that it seems he gets better as the season goes.
"A lot of guys tend to wear down, but he tends to get stronger and his fastball gets better as he gets into the game."
Verlander's last two outings came during the Tigers' 8-1 homestand, which was capped by Sunday's 3-1 victory over Arizona.
Translating that success onto the road has been a problem for Detroit. The team has dropped eight of 11 as the visitor, with the starting rotation posting a 6.08 ERA.
Detroit now begins a nine-game trip, which includes three-game series at New York (39-30), NL-best Atlanta and Minnesota.
The Tigers trail the Twins by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central, and cutting into that lead this week could be trying.
The Mets have won 10 of 11 at Citi Field and are second in the NL with a 24-10 home record, while the Braves lead the majors at 24-7.
New York swept its last home series against Detroit, winning three games at Shea Stadium from June 18-20, 2004.
Detroit, which is 5-4 overall against the Mets, will also have to contend with Niese (4-2, 3.64), who has won three consecutive starts with a 1.57 ERA.
The left-hander turned in another strong effort Wednesday, allowing three runs in seven innings of an 8-4 win at Cleveland. That came six days after he got his first complete game by throwing a one-hitter in a 3-0 home win over San Diego.
Niese has gone 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA over his last five starts at Citi Field - all Mets victories.
He'll try to extend that streak and help New York rebound from a pair of road defeats to the New York Yankees, including Sunday's 4-0 loss.
The Mets, who trail the Braves by 2 1/2 games, totaled three runs and 10 hits in their last two games after opening the trip with seven straight wins.
Jose Reyes is looking to re-establish himself at the plate after going 0 for 4 on Sunday, ending a season-high 11-game hitting streak. The shortstop hit .438 with four homers, seven RBIs and 12 runs during the streak.
The Tigers could get a lift from the expected return of leadoff hitter Austin Jackson, who was used as a defensive replacement in the ninth Sunday after missing five games with a back injury.
The center fielder leads AL rookies with a .308 batting average, 36 runs, 17 doubles and 10 stolen bases.
The Tigers and Mets are both 9-3 in interleague play, and they haven't met since Detroit won two of three at home from June 8-10, 2007.
