(AP) -- The Detroit Tigers are slowly starting to win against left-handed starters - but not thanks to Ryan Raburn.
The Tigers are expected to stick with the struggling Raburn in Friday night's opener of a three-game home set with the Kansas City Royals.
In a quirk of scheduling, Detroit (41-42) is in the midst of what will be five straight contests in which the opposing starter is left-handed. The Tigers won the first two of those games - both against Minnesota - to improve to 10-13 on the season versus southpaw starters. They are scheduled to face exclusively left-handed starters this weekend against the Royals (37-44).
Manager Jim Leyland - whose club has a chance Friday to reach .500 for the first time since it was 18-18 on May 15 - continues to start Raburn, who is hitting .173 overall and .169 against left-handers. The second baseman has become a focal point for criticism, with his manager telling the Tigers' official website Wednesday that "if Raburn doesn't help us agains...
