Tigers at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics were
supposed to be competing with the Seattle Mariners for last place in the
American League West while the Detroit Tigers were running away with
the American League Central. So far, the Athletics have been one of the
more pleasant surprises in the AL while the Tigers have disappointed.
Oakland appears to have found a way to get its hitting to catch up with
the pitching and has ridden that wave to a 7-3 record this month. The
Athletics will try to clinch the four-game series against Detroit on
Sunday.
The Tigers could not handle Tom Milone on Friday and
managed only four hits off Brandon McCarthy in Saturday’s 3-1 setback.
Miguel Cabrera had been on fire in the first two games of the series but
slipped on Saturday, combining with Prince Fielder to go 0-for-8 with
four strikeouts. Oakland is starting to get contributions up and down
the lineup. Jemile Weeks, Cliff Pennington, Daric Barton and Brandon
Inge - none of whom are batting better than .218 - have each come
through in the series.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, CS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.63 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.88)
Verlander
has had a hard time getting support from both his offense and his
bullpen but has not lost since April 11. The reigning Cy Young and MVP
is 5-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 11 career starts against the Athletics,
including 3-4 with a 2.62 mark in Oakland. Verlander’s only real
difficulty against any current member of the Athletics has been with
Coco Crisp, who is 8-for-22 (.364) with a pair of doubles off the
right-hander.
Parker has yet to allow more than two runs in a
start since being recalled by Oakland on April 25. He went a career-high
seven innings against Toronto on Tuesday, surrendering two runs and
walking five in a no decision. The 23-year-old gave up his first major
league home run - a two-run blast - to Kelly Johnson in that outing.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics second baseman Jemile Weeks left Saturday’s game in the fourth inning with an ankle injury.
2. Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the disabled list Saturday with a strained muscle in his hand.
3. Detroit outfielder/second baseman Ryan Raburn (back) sat out Saturday’s game and is day-to-day.