Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2011 ) Detroit 1, LA Angels 5

THE STORY: After running through interleague play and winning the series-opener Monday against Detroit, the Los Angeles Angels find themselves tied for first place in the American League West with Texas. The Angels look to continue that momentum today against the Tigers in a game that will feature a matchup between two of the American League’s top pitchers, as the Angels’ Dan Haren takes on the Tigers’ Justin Verlander.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports, MLB Network, Fox Sports Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.32) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (8-5, 2.85)

Verlander takes the mound Tuesday seeking his eighth-straight win. He finished June with a 6-0 record and 0.92 ERA, while allowing just five earned runs in 49 innings and sporting a 9:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Verlander has struggled somewhat against the Angels, carrying a 3-2 record and 5.24 ERA against Los Angeles in his last seven starts. The Angels’ Torii Hunter has hit well against Verlander in his career, batting 12-for-36 with a home run and seven RBIs.

Haren has won his last two starts and earned a win on June 29 against Washington behind 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. Haren will get a tough matchup from the Tigers and particularly Victor Martinez, who is 9-for-18 with a home run and four RBIs in his career against Haren.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (45-41): Though Verlander has been lights out in the first half of the season, the rest of the Tigers’ rotation has struggled. In response, the team fired pitching coach Rick Knapp on Monday and promoted bullpen coach Jeff Jones. The Tigers boast one of the league’s top offenses, but rank among the worst teams in baseball in ERA and batting average against.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (45-41): The Angels broke out the bats Monday in the series-opener, using a first-inning homer from Hunter and an eighth-inning home run from Vernon Wells to get the win. Wells’ home run may signal a change of fortunes from his early-season struggles. The outfielder has now homered in five of his last nine games and his continued emergence would provide Los Angeles another strong bat in the middle of the lineup.

FINAL PITCH: It’s been a big week for Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick, who learned Sunday he was selected for his first All-Star Game and extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double in the fourth inning Monday night against Detroit.