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DET@BOS: Scherzer fans six over six innings of work

In the long run, the Tigers are hoping to have a turnaround similar to the one they had last season that catapulted them from five games back in the American League Central at the start of June to runaway division champions.

For now, they'd just like to beat the Indians again.

Detroit will look to beat the Indians for the first time in five tries this season Wednesday, when the two clubs meet at Comerica Park for the second tilt of a three-game set. The Tigers finished last season on a 10-game winning streak against the Tribe and posted an 8-1 record overall at home in the head-to-head matchup.

The Tigers will call on right-hander Max Scherzer, who will be looking to continue his solid pitching of late after his disastrous start to the year. Scherzer has won three consecutive outings and is 4-0 in his last five trips to the mound. He's allowed three or fewer runs in each of those four victories, while notching 39 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings of work.

The key to Scherzer's turnaround -- in which he posted a 4.40 ERA in May after turning in a 7.77 mark in April -- has been improved control. The righty issued just eight walks in six May starts after handing out 13 free passes in five trips to the mound in April.

"I didn't walk anybody, that's always a recipe for success," Scherzer said after his first walk-free outing of the season on May 26. "You don't make mistakes like that and give them extra runners. I am more happy about that than anything about this start."

Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with Jeanmar Gomez, who is hoping to continue the Indians' bucking of last year's trends. Gomez was hit hard in two starts against the Tigers last year, conceding 11 runs off 20 hits in just 10 1/3 frames for a 9.58 ERA.

His most recent two starts have produced pretty similar results to those two road bumps against Detroit last season -- 11 earned runs off 16 hits in 10 2/3 innings. Gomez will be looking to snap a two-start losing streak in which his ERA rose from 3.19 following a May 19 gem to its current level of 4.42.

"I don't know," Gomez said after his last outing when asked about his recent struggles, which have specifically come with two outs. "I felt good. I got two outs quickly, but I was unable to get the third one. I made quality pitches, and they hit them."

Indians: Santana back in action
The Indians plan to have Carlos Santana behind the plate Wednesday for the first time since the catcher suffered a mild concussion in a May 25 contest. Santana returned from an eight-game absence Tuesday night and was in the lineup as the club's designated hitter.

"We have to put him back there," Acta said before Tuesday's victory. "He's cleared [by MLB]. He passed everything. He's normal. He's our catcher and he needs to catch."

Santana went 0-for-4 in his return and is now hitting .239 on the season with five home runs and 24 RBIs.

Tigers: Jackson nearing rehab assignment
Center fielder Austin Jackson, who hasn't seen action since May 16, could be getting close to heading out on a rehab assignment, according to manager Jim Leyland.

Jackson, on the disabled list with an injured abdomen, took live batting practice on the field prior to Tuesday's game.

"I'm hoping Austin Jackson, in the very near future, can go out [on a Minor League rehab assignment] and maybe play a couple games," Leyland said. "It looks like that's a possibility."

Worth noting
• Delmon Young is 6-for-9 with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs in his career against Gomez.

• Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is 8-for-14 [.571] with a double, triple, homer and four walks in 18 career plate appearances against Scherzer. The .667 on-base percentage is Choo's highest against any pitcher whom he's notched 15 or more plate appearances.

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