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After missing one turn in the rotation because of a bruised right hand, Freddy Garcia returns to the mound against the red hot Tigers in Lakeland. After today, the veteran right hander will have only two spring outings remaining, so time is running out on his chance to go North with the team as a starter. Unfortunately for Garcia, because of his 10-day layoff, he'll be limited to about 65 pitches, so there won't be much room for error. Also available to pitch and trying to win a job is left hander Cesar Cabral, who has struck out 11 batters in 8 1/3 innings.
Yankees' pitchers will get their first look at Prince Fielder, but absent from the lineup is third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Earlier in the week, the reigning A.L. batting champion gave new meaning to the "eye of the Tiger" when he took a ground ball off his face and fractured his orbital bone. In his place, Jim Leyland has been using a rotation at third base, which today belongs to Don Kelly.
The last time the Yankees saw Max Scherzer, he was helping to polish them off in game 5 of the ALDS. Today, they'll get another crack at the right hander, who enters the game with a 4.85 ERA in 13 spring innings. The lineup Scherzer will face doesn't come close to resembling the one he encountered last October, although Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira did make the trip north.
Of particular importance for the Yankees, Eduardo Nunez is in the leadoff slot, as he attempts to make up for lost time by snagging a few extra at bats. Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez has had more than enough playing time this spring, but he hasn't had nearly enough hits. In 39 plate appearances, the lefty DH has managed only two safeties and is 0 for his last 25. Joe Girardi has continued to express confidence in Ibanez, but how much longer will that last?
The game is not being broadcast on television or radio in either market, so Gameday or Twitter are the best ways to follow along. The lineups follow the jump.
New York Yankees
1. Eduardo Nunez - 3B
2. Francisco Cervelli - C
3. Robinson Cano - 2B
4. Mark Teixeira - 1B
5. Raul Ibanez - DH
6. Chris Dickerson - CF
7. Cole Garner - LF
8. Colin Curtis - RF
9. Ramiro Pena - SS
Freddy Garcia - RHP
Detroit Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Brennan Boesch - RF
3. Don Kelly - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Delmon Young - LF
6. Alex Avila - C
7. Ryan Raburn - DH
8. Jhonny Peralta - SS
9. Brandon Inge - 2B
Max Scherzer - RHP
h/t to LoHud Yankees Blog and mLIVE for the lineups.