NewsZumaya psyched to be 'in the house'
Detroit (8-8) at Kansas City (9-7), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com
04/25/09 12:50 AM ET
Joel Zumaya was stretched out on a sofa in the Tigers' clubhouse Friday afternoon when a teammate's shout came from the other end of the room."Zumaya is in the house!"
And with that welcoming salute, the Detroit bullpen is about to get a notable reinforcement.
Manager Jim Leyland said following Friday's game in Kansas City that Zumaya will be activated Saturday prior to the second game of the Tigers-Royals series. To accommodate Zumaya's arrival, right-hander Eddie Bonine was sent to Triple-A Toledo. In the same stadium where Zumaya suffered a freakish bullpen injury two years ago that started a run of bad injury luck, the right-hander is ready to go with a clean bill of health and a clean slate.
"All my nightmares started here, but I think it's going to be good now," Zumaya said. "I've been throwing the ball really well and my arm feels 100 percent. I can say that with honesty this time."
Zumaya is anxious to make his first regular-season appearance since Aug. 12, when he went on the disabled with a stress fracture in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.
Zumaya did some throwing and running on Friday. He made five rehab appearances and got the final nod of approval after showing he could hold up in back-to-back appearances for Toledo.
Zumaya made his Major League debut in Kansas City on April 3, 2006. Now he'd love to have a 2009 season debut on Saturday or Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
"I think it's going to be a new beginning for me, where I'm healthy for the remainder of my career," Zumaya said.
Zumaya has been working on his changeup and curve, which can make a robust fastball that much more imposing. Furthermore, he feels he has been making strides in the control department.
"I go out there trying to blow everybody's doors away, but I've been pounding the strike zone, too," Zumaya said.
Pitching matchup
DET: RHP Zach Miner (1-1, 8.10 ERA)
Last Tuesday's rainout against the White Sox prompted the four-man rotation that put Miner back in the bullpen for a while. Now that the off-days have passed and the Tigers need a fifth starter again, Miner will make his first start since April 13, and presumably keep on turn for the foreseeable future. The sinkerballer struggled with the cold, dry conditions at Comerica Park on Monday to yield eight runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings. Though he didn't use it as an excuse, the conditions clearly hampered his ability to grip the ball. That shouldn't be a problem at Kansas City, where the forecast calls for high temperatures in the low 70s this weekend. KC: RHP Kyle Davies (1-0, 2.89 ERA)
Davies walked four batters in the first inning of his last outing vs. the Rangers, and still left with a quality start. He gave up only three hits and had the lead when he left after six innings. He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. Davies relies on throwing his fastball for strikes early, setting up his changeup and curveball. He said after Sunday's start against the Rangers that he needs to adjust quicker if he's pounding the strike zone with fastballs early in the game and not locating the pitch. Tidbits
John Westhoff, the Tigers' vice president of baseball legal counsel, was in New York on Friday and presented Gary Sheffield with a No. 500 home run gift. That commemorative gift from the Detroit organization had been waiting for Sheffield when he was sitting on 499 late last season. ... Placido Polanco's first-inning single on Friday extended his hitting streak to six games. ... Curtis Granderson and Brandon Inge each had a seven-game hitting streak snapped Friday against Zack Greinke. Tickets
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• Sunday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 2-0, 1.96) at Royals (Sidney Ponson, 0-2, 7.04), 2:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-2, 9.00) vs. Yankees (CC Sabathia, 1-1, 4.81), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 1-1, 2.77) vs. Yankees (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
