Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Detroit 7

The one thing separating the Detroit Tigers from the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central is, well, the Tigers. Detroit has won six straight and 14 of 17 overall this season versus Cleveland to open a 7 1/2-game division lead entering the second contest of the three-game series against the visiting Indians on Saturday. Perhaps the one glimmer of hope for Cleveland is the health of Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left each of the last two games due to an abdominal injury.

Cabrera, who leads the major leagues in batting average and RBIs and is second in homers, is listed as day-to-day but admitted he isn't feeling good and is unsure if he will wind up on the 15-day disabled list. Cleveland, which was swept by Detroit in a four-game series earlier this month, has scored only five runs during its four-game losing streak. The Indians, who are 4 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second AL wild-card spot, attempted to bolster their offense on Friday with the acquisition of outfielder Jason Kubel from Arizona.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSN (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Scott Kazmir (7-6, 4.25 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (11-7, 2.61)

Kazmir is winless in three starts but turned in a strong performance in his last outing, striking out eight while limiting Minnesota to one run on seven hits over six innings. He was knocked around for a combined 10 runs over eight frames in his previous two turns following a 10-start unbeaten stretch. Kazmir did not factor in the decision versus Detroit on July 8, giving up two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Sanchez had his worst performance in over a month last time out, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings. That halted a stellar seven-start stretch during which he yielded two runs or fewer, including an 11-strikeout effort in 7 2/3 frames at Cleveland on Aug. 5. Sanchez gave up one run in five innings to beat the Indians on July 6 and improve to 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers DH Victor Martinez is 9-for-18 with a homer against Kazmir.

2. Indians LF Michael Brantley is 13-for-25 in his last seven games versus Detroit.

3. Sanchez is 7-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 11 home starts.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Indians 2