Detroit @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) Detroit 2, LA Angels 3
The Los Angeles Angels mustered little against Max Scherzer in the series opener against the Detroit Tigers - but they sure made up for it when it counted. After Alberto Callaspo's pinch-hit single off reliever Octavio Dotel secured a stirring 3-2 victory, the Angels will look to continue their winning ways when they test their mettle against Justin Verlander on Saturday. The Angels have won four straight and 13 of 16 to move to within one game of Baltimore for the second wild card in the American League.
One game is also all that separates Detroit from the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, although it slipped 1 1/2 behind Los Angeles in the race for the wild card. The Tigers, who have dropped three of four, must keep their wits about them as they play the second contest of a 10-game road trip - a set which includes a pivotal four-game series in Chicago next week.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSW (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (13-7, 2.73 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (11-9, 3.85)
Verlander answered a brutal start with a brilliant one after bouncing back from yielding eight runs by surrendering just one and striking out 11 in a 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and MVP will look to overtake Scherzer for the strikeout lead on Saturday. Verlander, who sits four strikeouts behind Scherzer, has split eight career decisions versus the Angels.
Wilson posted his second straight victory after allowing two runs in five innings in an 8-3 triumph over Oakland on Monday. The 31-year-old fell to 0-2 in his career versus the Tigers after permitting seven runs on eight hits and walking five in a 7-2 setback on July 18. Wilson has issued 11 walks in just 17 1/3 innings versus Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles' Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 to see his 14-game hitting streak come to an end. Pujols has enjoyed success versus Verlander, going 3-for-6 while also reaching base with three walks.
2. Tigers slugger Prince Fielder went 2-for-4 in the opener and homered for the second straight contest to extend his hitting streak to five games. Fielder is 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs versus Wilson.
3. The Angels will make a decision on Jered Weaver after the ace throws a side session on Saturday. Weaver missed his scheduled start on Friday with tendinitis in his pitching arm.