Toronto @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2012 ) Toronto 2, Detroit 3

Justin Verlander has not been able to match his brilliant 2011 season, but the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner appears to be in an ideal position to pick up his 13th win when the Detroit Tigers vie for a three-game sweep of the skidding Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. Verlander, who has won only once in his last five starts, faces an offense that has failed to produce more than three runs in six straight games and has ranked as the worst in baseball in the past 3 1/2 weeks.

The Tigers have won five of seven to remain two games behind the front-running Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and one game out of the wild card chase. Toronto, which has lost four straight and seven of eight, has some help on the horizon with slugger Jose Bautista set to rejoin the team Friday. However, the Blue Jays will have to play the series finale without shortstop Yunel Escobar (paternity leave) and most likely without ailing first baseman David Cooper (neck).

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (2-1, 5.09 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (12-7, 2.53)

Happ has won his last two starts and is coming off a strong performance, limiting the Texas Rangers to one run on two hits while striking out eight in six innings. He will be making his fourth start and eighth appearance for the Blue Jays since coming over in a deal with the Houston Astros. Prince Fielder is 6-for-16 with three doubles and four RBIs against Happ.

Verlander is coming off back-to-back no-decisions despite allowing four runs in his last two starts. He struggled with his control last time out, walking four and allowed three runs in six innings against Baltimore. In his previous start, he gave up one runs in seven innings at Texas. The Blue Jays have fared well overall against Verlander, who is only 2-2 with a 5.18 ERA in six career starts against them. Of course, his did no-hit Toronto in May 2011

WALK-OFFS

1. Verlander needs seven strikeouts to reclaim the major league lead from teammate Max Scherzer.

2. Toronto has scored three runs or fewer in 18 of its past 23 games, going 5-18 in that span.

3. Blue Jays CF Colby Rasmus is mired in an 0-for-26 slump in his past six games.