Detroit @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2012 ) Detroit 7, Baltimore 2

The Detroit Tigers seem to have found their stride, playing their best ball since the first two weeks of the season and looking like the team that ran away with the American League Central title a year ago. The Tigers extended their winning streak to a season-high six games by pounding the Baltimore Orioles in the first game after the All-Star break. Jhonny Peralta and Miguel Cabrera homered for Detroit, which scored six of its seven runs with two out.

Baltimore's beleaguered pitching staff absorbed another blow when starter Jason Hammel had to leave Friday's game in the fourth inning with an injury to his right knee. Hammel, the Orioles' most reliable starter, has been bothered by the knee and will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday. The Tigers exploited Hammel's absence, scoring five runs in the first two innings after he exited the game to send Baltimore to its 10th loss in 14th games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (8-5, 4.72 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (7-5, 3.93)

Scherzer continued a string of strong performances last time out, limiting the Kansas City Royals to one run and five hits in seven innings. He is 3-1 in his last four starts, allowing a total of only six runs while striking out 33 and walking four in 27 innings. In three career starts against Baltimore, Scherzer is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA and .298 batting average against.

Chen was hit hard in his last outing, surrendering a season-high three homers and giving up five runs in a season-low four innings against the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old is 0-3 in his last four starts and has not been helped out much by Baltimore's offense, which has produced four runs in those games. He's also give up eight of his 15 homers in that span.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers CF Austin Jackson has hit in 16 consecutive games, tied for the longest active streak in baseball.

2. Orioles RF Nick Markakis came off the 15-day disabled list Friday and had an RBI double in his first game since May 29.

3. After failing to homer in 32 games, Peralta has hit a three-run shot in back-to-back games.