(SportsNetwork.com) - Rick Porcello tries to become the major leagues' first 14-game winner on Thursday when the Detroit Tigers attempt to salvage a split in their four-game series with the New York Yankees.
Overlooked on a staff that now includes the last three American League Cy Young Award winners, Porcello has been terrific for the Tigers, going 13-5 with a 3.18 ERA. His most recent win came on Saturday against Colorado, as he held the Rockies to a pair of runs and struck out 10 in eight innings.
Fellow 13-game winners Willy Peralta of Milwaukee and St. Louis' Adam Wainwright will also be on the hill Thursday.
The odds won't be in Porcello's favor this afternoon, however, as he is 0-1 with an ERA of 8.10 in two starts at Yankee Stadium. Porcello, of course, grew up in Morristown, N.J., which is about 40 miles from Yankee Stadium.
"Feels like every year it takes a little out of it," he said. "Just from maturity and experience. I get butterflies before every game. It's a different feeling, but I'm able to channel it a lot easier now."
New York, meanwhile, will counter with right-handed rookie Shane Greene, who is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Greene did not get a decision on Saturday in Boston, as the Red Sox reached him for three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings of the Yanks' 6-4 win.
"I was kind of in my own head for a little bit," said Greene. "I was just trying to make perfect pitches. I just had to go back to my game plan and attack guys."
New York beat a former Cy Young winner for the second time in three nights on Wednesday, as Brian McCann belted a tie-breaking solo homer in the seventh inning, and the Yankees pulled away late to record a 5-1 decision.
Chase Headley also had a solo homer as part of a 2-for-4 night, while McCann finished with two RBI in New York's fourth win in five games.
Chris Capuano turned in an impressive start for the Yankees, striking out a season-best eight while yielding one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings and going toe-to-toe with Detroit's Justin Verlander. Adam Warren (2-5) followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings to receive the victory after McCann's go-ahead blast.
"You know it was going to be a close game," Capuano said. "Justin didn't have quite the velocity on his fastball, but he was really pitching tonight. He made great pitches all night."
Verlander (10-10) allowed just five hits in seven innings. However, two of them left the yard courtesy of McCann and Headley.
"I feel like I threw the ball better," Verlander said. "The last few times out since the All-Star break, every time has been a little bit better."
On the injury front, New York could be without first baseman Mark Teixeira, who cut his left pinkie sliding into home plate. Also, Detroit's Torii Hunter may miss his second straight game after getting hit on the left hand Tuesday.
Detroit split six matchups with the Yankees last season.
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