Baltimore @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2012 ) Baltimore 3, Detroit 2

The Baltimore Orioles are winning the close ones and their lights-out bullpen is making it possible. The Orioles, who matched a club record with 12 straight victories in one-run games following their 3-2 win Saturday and are 23-6 in such contests this season, will visit the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. The Orioles, who lead the Oakland Athletics by one-half game and the Tigers by one game for the final wild card spot in the American League, are 50-0 when leading after seven innings. Baltimore relievers are fifth in the majors with a 3.04 ERA and their 21 victories are fourth.

Orioles' starters are 43-45 with a 4.68 ERA - the worst numbers among playoff contenders, but rookie Wei-Yin Chen is the exception. He has won four of his last six starts to keep Baltimore's hopes alive for its first postseason berth since 1997. Chen will oppose Detroit's Doug Fister, who is 3-0 in his last starts and has won six of his last seven decisions. The Tigers are 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central while the Orioles trail the New York Yankees by six in the AL East.

TV: 1:05 p.m. MASN 2, WJZ (Baltimore), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (11-7, 3.70 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (7-7, 3.24)

Chen allowed a career-high nine hits in his last start but yielded only run in six innings in Baltimore's 7-1 victory over Boston on Tuesday. He allowed one run and two hits in six innings but did not receive a decision in the Orioles' 8-6 win over the Tigers on July 14. Chen, who has yielded three or less runs in six of his seven starts since the All-Star break, has been equally effective on the road (5-3, 3.82) and has won his last two away outings.

Fister overcame two errors by his defense in the third inning in his last start and allowed four runs (none earned), five hits and struck out seven in eight innings in Detroit's 8-4 victory at Minnesota on Tuesday. Fister, who has allowed three or less runs in his last seven starts, is 3-0 with a 2.46 ERA in his last four outings at home. He is 3-1 in five starts against Baltimore. The Orioles' roster is hitting .275 against him with Nick Markakis 7-for-17 (homer, seven RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera is 12-for-22 in his last six games to raise his average to .332. He also has a 14-game hitting streak against the Orioles and is batting .540 (27-for-50) against them during that span.

2. The 1979 Orioles, which won the AL pennant, was the last Baltimore team to win 12 straight one-run games.

3. Cabrera and Fielder have reached base a combined 12 of 16 times in the series.