Oakland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2012 ) Oakland 2, Detroit 12

The Detroit Tigers still have a shot at the American League Central title, thanks to Miguel Cabrera. The All-Star slugger has ramped up his MVP campaign recently and is attempting to bring the rest of his teammates along for the ride. Cabrera homered twice and drove in six runs in Tuesday’s 12-2 shellacking of the Oakland Athletics and now has a legit shot at the triple crown. The Athletics are trying to lock up their own playoff berth, holding a half-game lead for the top wild card.

Cabrera leads the AL in batting (.333) and RBIs (129) while sitting tied for second in home runs. He has been on a tear lately, belting four homers in the last four games and hitting safely in eight straight. Still, the Tigers are three games behind the Chicago White Sox with 15 games left. Oakland has dropped back-to-back games after winning eight of nine. The pitching staff has been mostly to blame, serving up 21 runs in the two setbacks after allowing a total of 21 during the previous nine contests. The A’s are enduring a very difficult stretch in the schedule, with trips to face the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers coming up after Detroit.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSCA (Oakland), FSD (Detroit), ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Oakland LH Brett Anderson (4-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (14-8, 2.82)

Anderson had his first slip since coming off the disabled list at Los Angeles last week, when he was knocked around for five runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. The 24-year-old left-hander had allowed a total of two earned runs in his first four starts following Tommy John surgery. Anderson has fared well against Detroit in the past, going 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in three career starts. Cabrera is 3-for-7 with a double and one RBI off Anderson.

Verlander has been up and down recently but is coming off a strong outing at Cleveland in which he struck out six in seven scoreless innings to earn the win. The reigning Cy Young and MVP has allowed six runs or more in two of his last four starts. Verlander held the A’s to one run on two hits while striking out eight in seven innings to pick up a win on May 13. He is 6-5 with a 2.56 ERA in 12 career starts against Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RHP Max Scherzer, who leads the majors with 224 strikeouts, left Tuesday’s start after two innings with shoulder fatigue. An MRI exam revealed no structural damage.

2. Athletics CF Coco Crisp has been battling pink eye for the last week and tried to play on Tuesday before coming out of the game in the fourth.

3. Detroit C Alex Avila (head) has missed the last two games. He was injured Sunday when he took an elbow to the side of the head from 1B Prince Fielder as the two were chasing a foul ball.