Athletics at Tigers
The Oakland Athletics, who own the worst record in the American League despite some inspired play lately, happen to be the only thing keeping the Detroit Tigers from their longest losing streak since 2005. The surging Athletics hope to extend the Tigers’ recent woes and avenge a series loss to them at home last week when the teams meet in the opener of a three-game set in Detroit on Tuesday.
Solid pitching has been the primary reason Oakland (20-33) has won
six of nine, tossing three shutouts and posting a 1.67 ERA over that
span. Two of three hiccups during the Athletics’ most successful
nine-game stretch of the season came in low-scoring one-run home losses
to Detroit last Tuesday and Wednesday. Oakland followed up those
back-to-back setbacks by taking three of four at home from the New York
Yankees and hit the road to find a team in the Tigers that has
dropped seven of nine and is coming off a 2-5 road trip after getting
swept in Los Angeles by the Angels. Detroit’s usually-potent offense has
been grounded during the slide, scoring two runs or fewer six times.
TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (2-2, 5.79 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Alfredo Simon (5-2, 2.67)
Graveman
left the team following Sunday’s home win against the New York Yankees
to attend to a family issue, but is expected to return in time to make
his first career start versus Detroit. The 24-year-old Mississippi State
product settled for a no-decision on Thursday against the Yankees,
allowing three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over 5 2/3
innings. Graveman picked up his last victory with six scoreless innings
at Tampa Bay five days earlier to improve to 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in
three turns away from home this season.
Simon is expected to
return from the bereavement list following the passing of his father
last week. The 2014 All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds left the Tigers
last Tuesday to return to the Dominican Republic prior to his scheduled
start the next day and will take the mound for the first time since
yielding two unearned runs in a 6-2 victory over Houston on May 22.
Simon lost his only career start against the Athletics in 2011 as a
member of the Baltimore Orioles, surrendering six runs (five earned)
over 5 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera
is batting .333 with 12 runs scored, five homers and 13 RBI during his
AL-best 20-game on-base streak.
2. Oakland went 13-for-36 with
runners in scoring position against the Yankees after going 18-for-140
in similar situations over its previous 14 contests.
3. The Tigers have won seven of the last 10 meetings since the start of last season despite getting outscored 35-33.