Detroit @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2012 ) Detroit 1, Toronto 5

Doug Fister has been Detroit's most consistent pitcher since the All-Star break. The Tigers hope that trend continues as Fister takes the mound for Sunday's series finale in Toronto. The Tigers went into the series with hopes of taking control of the American League Central, but have dropped the first two games and now sit 2 1/2 back of the red-hot Chicago White Sox. Toronto has won three straight contests and now finds itself just a half-game back of second-place Baltimore in the East.

The story of the series to date has been the strength of Toronto's pitching. The Blue Jays, whose rotation has been ravaged by injuries, have surrendered only four runs to a team that came into the weekend averaging more than 5 1/2 runs during a 15-game stretch earlier in the month. Left-hander Brett Cecil will try to extend Toronto's run of strong pitching performances while looking for his first win in four starts. The Blue Jays would love to see Cecil stretch things out, having had just two starts of seven innings or longer this month.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, SN-1 (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (4-7, 4.03 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (2-3, 5.82)

Fister saw a personal three-game winning streak come to an end last time out as he surrendered three runs over seven innings in a loss to Cleveland. Prior to that, the 28-year-old allowed two runs over 15 frames in impressive victories over Los Angeles and Baltimore. Fister is still looking for his first decent start against the Blue Jays, having gone 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA in three career outings.

Cecil may not be racking up the victories, but he has put together back-to-back solid outings as he looks to regain the form of his 15-win 2010 season. The 26-year-old has gone six innings in each of his last two starts, surrendering just five runs in that span while striking out 13. He has one career start against the Tigers, holding them to two runs on six hits but picking up a no-decision in a 5-3 Toronto win back on July 25, 2010.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cecil might wish he were pitching somewhere else Sunday. He has a 7.89 ERA in indoor venues this season compared to a 3.18 mark outdoors.

2. Tigers SS Omar Infante, acquired from Miami earlier in the week, is hitting only .118 (2-for-19) in five games in his second go-around with Detroit.

3. Detroit hasn't been swept in Toronto since Sept. 5-7, 2003.