Los Angeles @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2011 ) LA Angels 5, Detroit 1

THE STORY: There were plenty of storylines for a four-game series between the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers. Both teams have set themselves up for playoff runs over the final two months and could be active in advance of Sunday‘s trade deadline. But the best story is set for the finale, when Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver will square off in a battle that could put the winner in prime Cy Young position. Verlander will be looking to earn the host Tigers a split of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, KCOP (Los Angeles), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (14-5, 2.34 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (14-4, 1.79).

Verlander leads the American League with 169 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP and ranks third in ERA. The power righthander also has a no-hitter to his credit this season. Verlander has allowed one or zero runs in eight of his last 10 turns but surrendered four over eight innings at Chicago on Tuesday. He suffered a loss at the Angels on July 5 despite yielding only one run in 7 2/3 innings, and owns a 3-4 record with a 4.13 ERA in 10 career starts against Los Angeles. Weaver has won his last eight decisions and leads the majors in ERA while ranking seventh in strikeouts (134), and is third in the American League in WHIP (0.95). The 28-year old has surrendered only six homers in 161 innings this season and allowed only five hits in a win at Cleveland on Tuesday. Weaver has struggled against Detroit in the past, posting a 3-3 record with a 5.68 ERA in eight career starts.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (56-51): Detroit got the extra starting pitcher it had been looking for Saturday when it landed Doug Fister in a trade from the Seattle Mariners. The Tigers also got right-handed reliever David Pauley in the deal that sent outfielder Casper Wells, infielder Francisco Martinez, lefthander Charlie Furbush and a player to be named later back to the Mariners. Detroit may have found another pitcher for the stretch drive Saturday when top prospect Jacob Turner made his major league debut and dominated through 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and striking out six. The Tigers insist that the start was a one-time thing as they try to manage the 20-year old’s innings total, but perhaps a bullpen stint in September could help the team.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (59-49): As good as Turner was Saturday, Dan Haren was better. The former All-Star allowed six hits and one run in a complete-game effort, improving to 2-0 against the Tigers this season and pushing himself to the back of the Cy Young discussion. Los Angeles is close enough (two game back) to the Texas Rangers in the AL West that they could be engaged in trade talks as well but have been quiet on that front. Rookie Mark Trumbo has helped cover for the slumps of veterans Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Bobby Abreu by driving in seven runs through the first three games of the series and 11 in the last seven contests. Erick Aybar has been strong as well with six hits, two runs scored, two RBIs and three steals in the three games against Detroit.

FINAL PITCH: Weaver and Verlander were teammates on Team USA for the 2003 Pan Am Games and both were first-round draft picks in 2004. Verlander went No. 2 overall to the Tigers and Weaver was selected 12th by the Angels. “It’s going to be a good time,” Weaver said. “I’m obviously not facing (Verlander), I’m facing their lineup. So that’s the approach I’m going to take.”