Red Sox-Tigers Preview

DETROIT -- Dave Dombrowski will see the results of his work when Saturday night's game between Boston and Detroit begins.

Not his efforts on behalf of the Red Sox, where he is the chief executive, but his work of last July when he was still president, CEO and general manger of the Tigers.

Dombrowski made three non-waiver deadline deals for Detroit near the end of last July that netted the Tigers three young starting pitchers -- Matt Boyd, Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris.

Boyd started for the Tigers against the Red Sox on Thursday, Fulmer was the starter Friday night and Norris was slated to be on the mound at the beginning of Saturday's contest.

Detroit fired Dombrowski scant days after the deadline passed, but before the season ended Boston had scooped him up to run their organization.

The Tigers began the season with none of the three starters Dombrowski acquired on their major league roster.

Fulmer was kept in the minors to learn a changeup, but was brought up early because of an injury to another starter. He settled in after a handful of starts and has been with the team since. Boyd has been up and down a couple times this year but now appears to be up to stay.

Norris had a so-so spring, got hurt, and has fought through a couple more injuries before recently rejoining the rotation.

"They've done well," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said."Some of the young guys have done well. Fulmer was doing well already, Boyd has pitched well, Norris has pitched well.

"We've still got time to go. Just because they've done it so far doesn't mean it's over. They just have to continue to do it."

Norris (1-1, 3.47 ERA) makes his sixth start and seventh appearance of the season and will be looking to beat Boston for the first time in his short career.

Norris, who has a nice mix of pitches but off-and-on control, is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA against the Red Sox. He has pitched against them twice with one start, which was Aug. 7, 2015 when he allowed five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Boston sends left-hander Drew Pomeranz (9-9, 2.99 ERA; 1-2, 4.59 with Boston) to face Detroit, the second time he has pitched against the Tigers this season.

Pomeranz was making his second start with the Red Sox after being acquired in a trade with San Diego when he pitched against the Tigers on July 25. Detroit only got four hits and two runs in six innings off him but he still wound up as the losing pitcher.

Pomeranz got his first win for Boston in his last start, allowing two runs on five hits at Cleveland over 7 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox saw their bullpen give up a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning in losing Thursday's game to the Tigers 4-3.

"We've had a number of guys with very some good performances," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We've had some inconsistencies.

"When you're in those games in which you feel like you're anywhere from three to six outs away from closing down, when those get away those can be a little bit more frustrating."