Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Cleveland 2, Detroit 10

As good as Prince Fielder has been 2012, the Detroit Tigers probably expected more power from their marquee offseason addition. Fielder looks to build on a sensational performance in the series opener as he leads the Tigers into action Saturday night against the scuffling Cleveland Indians. Fielder had three hits, including a home run, and finished with four RBIs as the Tigers trounced the Indians 10-2 Friday night, sending Cleveland to their seventh consecutive defeat.

Fielder's blast was his 18th of the season, and just his third in 20 games since the All-Star break. And while his other key stats have been solid - he comes into Saturday's game batting .308 with 77 RBIs - an uptick in power alongside MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera would make the Tigers serious threats to unseat the Chicago White Sox atop the American League Central. Detroit trails Chicago by 2 1/2 games going into the weekend. Cleveland was a contender a week ago, but now finds itself 8 1/2 games back.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSD (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (8-10, 5.08 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-7, 3.77)

Jimenez will try to reverse a stunning trend of Indians starters imploding during the club's nightmarish nine-game road trip. Members of the Cleveland rotation - Jimenez among them - boast a 12.40 ERA during the team's 0-7 run, and are averaging fewer than five innings per start. Jimenez was tagged for five runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings in his last outing, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. The 28-year-old righty is 4-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 10 career starts against the Tigers but has beaten them twice this season.

Fister has a nice run going in the second half, having gone 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break. It's a remarkable turnaround from a dismal first half that saw him earn just two wins in 11 decisions. The 28-year-old threw seven masterful innings against Toronto six days ago, limiting a formidable Blue Jays lineup to a run on seven hits for his fourth win in five decisions. Fister has enjoyed success against Cleveland over his career, going 3-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 10 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Fister last faced the Indians on July 24, taking the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits over seven innings.

2. Jimenez has issued an American League-high 72 walks and has surrendered at least one home run in eight of his last 10 starts.

3. The Indians haven't dropped eight straight games since stringing together 11 losses in a row from Sept. 13-24, 2009.