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DET@CLE: Scherzer fans eight over seven innings

Right-handers Doug Fister and Max Scherzer are both formidable No. 2-type starters for the Tigers behind ace Justin Verlander, with each possessing the ability to go on a roll.

Fister, who tossed eight innings of one-run ball on Sunday to help the Tigers avoid a three-game sweep in Toronto, proved that last year. He went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA after coming to Detroit in a Deadline deal with Seattle.

Fister's 2011 performance helped vault the Tigers in the second half, as they distanced themselves from the pack en route to winning the American League Central by 15 games. Scherzer, who takes the ball in Monday's series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, is on his own roll as of late -- and the Tigers are hoping for 2012's second half to closely resemble that of 2011.

Scherzer is 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA in last seven outings, tossing six quality starts over that span. He's also struck out 35 batters in his last 32 innings and has worked seven innings in three of his last four starts -- including his most recent outing against the Indians.

"He's got himself established enough and mature enough now to make some adjustments," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after Scherzer's last start.

Opposing Scherzer is Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz, who has been Boston's best pitcher since the All-Star break. The Red Sox have won two of his last three starts, during which he's posted a 2.53 ERA.

He's allowed one run in each of his last two starts, working eight and seven innings in those outings, respectively.

"Every starter goes out there to do one thing, and it's to try to pitch as deep in the game as you can to give the team a chance to win," Buchholz said after his seven-inning effort against Texas.

Monday will mark the beginning of a 10-game homestand for the Red Sox, an important stretch of games if Boston hopes to get back in the Wild Card race. After a 3-2 win over the Yankees in 10 innings on Sunday, the Red Sox sit four games back of the Angels for the second Wild Card spot.

"Couldn't come at a better time," second baseman Dustin Pedroia said after Sunday's win. "We need to win, we got some huge performances from guys on Sunday. It's great, we build on this, get back home, play good ball."

Tigers: Villarreal and the 'pen

 Brayan Villarreal and the rest of the Tigers' bullpen have been on a roll as of late, with the righty posting a 1.08 ERA with 19 strikeouts in his last 14 outings. After closer Jose Valverde recorded his 20th save on Sunday, Detroit's bullpen has a 2.54 ERA, .234 batting average against and 180 strikeouts in its last 65 games.

• Center fielder Austin Jackson has not committed an error in his last 151 games, dating back to June 30, 2011.

Red Sox: Crawford not certain on surgery

 Left fielder Carl Crawford was back in the Red Sox lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, a day after getting a somewhat controversial day off.

Manager Bobby Valentine stated that he sat Crawford on Saturday because the medical staff wants the left fielder to get a rest after playing roughly four games in a row. Crawford has said a couple of times that he will need Tommy John ligament transfer surgery in his left elbow as soon as his 2012 season ends.

"Well, once again, and I heard what Carl said, I've never been told that he needs an operation," Valentine said. "I don't think that's a definitive situation."

Worth noting

• Scherzer beat Boston on May 31, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings after getting shelled by them in his season debut (seven runs in 2 2/3 innings). He is 1-2 with a 9.82 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox.

• Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with seven RBIs in his career against Buchholz, who is 1-1 with a 3.83 ERA in seven career starts against Detroit.

• Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has 20 home runs on the season, tops among Major League catchers. The all-time Red Sox record for homers in a single season by a catcher is 26, by Carlton Fisk in 1973 and '79.

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