Oakland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2012 ) Oakland 2, Detroit 6

The Detroit Tigers are still in the American League Central race thanks to some clutch pitching performances and the stellar play of Miguel Cabrera. The All-Star slugger is bashing his way toward a Triple Crown with five homers in the last five games and has the Tigers back within two games of the Chicago White Sox in the Central. The only thing that could derail the Oakland Athletics’ postseason plans is a long losing streak.

The Athletics have suddenly dropped three straight and are staring at an upcoming schedule that has them on the road in New York and Texas over the next seven games. Oakland is still comfortably hanging onto a wild card spot, but the pitching staff is starting to crack. After allowing an average of 2.3 runs while winning eight of nine, A’s pitchers have surrendered 27 runs over the last three games. Brett Anderson was forced out of the start on Wednesday with a strained oblique and could miss some time. Any pitcher would be having trouble with Cabrera, who now leads the AL in batting average (.334) and RBIs (130) while sitting second with 41 home runs.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, CSCA (Oakland), FSD (Detroit), ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Tommy Milone (13-10, 3.81 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 4.19)

Milone set an Oakland rookie record with his 13th win last Friday, surrendering one run on six hits at home against Baltimore. The 25-year-old left-hander has been much less effective on the road, posting a 6-6 record with a 5.13 ERA away from the spacious Coliseum. Milone dominated Detroit at home on May 11, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings to earn the win. Cabrera drove in the two runs.

Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Cleveland last Saturday and ended up charged with two runs on three hits while striking out seven in the win. The veteran right-hander has been strong of late, putting up a quality start in each of his last five turns. The long-time National Leaguer has never faced the A’s.

WALK-OFFS

1. Anderson had an MRI after Wednesday’s game and has already been replaced in the next turn of the rotation by Dan Straily.

2. Cabrera is 14-for-29 with 13 RBIs in the last seven games.

3. Athletics CF Coco Crisp (pink eye) has started only once in the last week and had to be lifted after only four innings.