In what could be the most pivotal series of the season to date on the horizon next week, the Indians are treating it like a playoff series. This morning, Ubaldo Jimenez was informed that he was being pushed back from his next start on Wednesday, which would have been against Doug Fister and Detroit. Instead, Jimenez will face the Angels on Friday and rookie Danny Salazar will face Fister and the Motor City Kitties.

Jimenez says he's been pushed back to. Friday. Won 't face Detroit on Wednesday. — paul hoynes (@hoynsie) August 4, 2013

Tito on Salazar: "we want to see what this kid can do." #Indians — paul hoynes (@hoynsie) August 4, 2013

Salazar pitched a beauty in his big league debut, tossing six innings of one-run, two-hit ball against the Blue Jays, striking out seven. This season between Akron and Columbus, the 23-year-old is 6-5 with a 2.71 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts), allowing 71 hits, 24 walks, and 129 hits in 93 innings.

Jimenez has pitched well since the first six weeks or so of the season, posting a 8-6 record with a 4.18 ERA overall, not allowing more than 4 earned runs since May 22. The team also has a 8-4 record in his last 12 starts. Ubaldo, however, has not had a good track record against the Tigers this season. In three starts, Ubaldo has allowed 13 runs (11 earned) in 13 innings against Detroit, surrendering 17 hits, walking 7, and striking out 14. He also was knocked around by the Marlins on Friday night for five runs, though Asdrubal Cabrera’s pair of errors had plenty to do with that. As a result, Jimenez lasted just four innings.

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