Colorado @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2012 ) Colorado 1, Detroit 4

The Detroit Tigers seek their third consecutive series win when they conclude a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Detroit handed Colorado its ninth loss in 10 games with a 4-1 victory on Saturday to even the series and get back to three games below .500. Miguel Cabrera hit his 14th homer and also circled the bases when Colorado made two throwing errors on his infield comebacker. The Rockies are 1-10 in interleague play.

Colorado has yielded eight runs in the first two games of the series after allowing 70 during a season-worst eight-game losing skid. The Rockies also have struggled at the plate, scoring two or fewer runs in five of their last 10 games. Detroit has won six of nine games as it attempts to recover from a slow start. Cabrera (53) and Prince Fielder (43) have combined for 96 RBIs but haven’t gotten enough help from those behind them in the order. Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson ranks third on the squad with 27.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), Fox Sports Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jeremy Guthrie (3-5, 6.91) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (5-4, 5.76)

Guthrie has lost four of his last five starts and given up seven runs in each of the last two. He has allowed 11 homers during the five-start stretch and has given up 19 hits over his last 8 1/3 innings. Guthrie is 3-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 10 career appearances (seven starts) against Detroit.

Scherzer is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in two June starts after going 4-0 in May. He has walked eight in 10 1/3 innings this month after walking just eight all month in six May starts. Scherzer took a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs in his last start when he allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He is 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Cabrera has two homers in 14 career at-bats against Guthrie.

2. Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is 6-for-9 in the series and is batting .438 during a seven-game hitting streak.

3. Detroit outfielder Brennan Boesch is hitless in eight at-bats in the series to drop his home batting average to .167.