Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2012 ) Cleveland 3, Detroit 2

The Detroit Tigers need to take advantage of the struggling Cleveland Indians in the final two games of the series, starting Tuesday. The Tigers lost a 3-2 decision to the Indians on Monday, dropping out of a first-place tie in the American League Central, one game behind the Chicago White Sox. After Wednesday, the Tigers head out on a 10-game road trip that includes the Los Angeles Angels and the White Sox. Detroit’s bats were relatively quiet Monday, but Delmon Young remains red hot. Young is 15-for-34 with four homers and 12 RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.

The Indians snapped an eight-game road losing streak, but have only won three of their last 19 games overall. Cleveland, which hosts the Tigers on Sept. 14-16, still holds an 8-5 advantage over its Motor City rivals in 2012. With closer Chris Perez on paternity leave, Vinnie Pestano saved games Saturday and Monday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (10-12, 4.91 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Rick Porcello (9-10, 4.57)

Masterson has been the definition of up and down lately. He has allowed seven or eight earned runs in four of his last seven starts. He surrendered a combined three runs in the other three. Masterson is 1-5 against the Tigers lifetime, with a 5.43 ERA and 66 hits in 53 innings. The Tigers scored 10 hits and seven runs against him Aug. 3. He beat Detroit 2-1 on May 24.

Porcello has dropped four consecutive decisions, but facing the Indians may be the best tonic. He is 5-2 against Cleveland in his career with a 4.06 ERA in 75 1/3 innings. Porcello did lose his only outing against the Indians this season May 22, giving up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He has given up 11 earned runs in 23 innings during his losing streak.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miguel Cabrera is 10-of-22 with a homer and seven RBIs against Masterson.

2. Russ Canzler has four hits in 12 at bats since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

3. Tigers closer Jose Valverde has saved 12 straight games since July 14. He is 28-for-32 overall.