Edwin Jackson (4-3, 2.58) vs. 
Jason Berken (1-0, 3.60), 1:35 p.m. EST
It's been almost eight years since my short time in the Baltimore area ended, and I still think back to how much I enjoyed it. If I had a good reason to go back and live in Towson, I'd probably jump on the opportunity. But I do not want to see Camden Yards again this season. Not with the Tigers playing there, anyway. This series has been emotionally exhausting. It's going to take months of medical treatment and/or drug therapy to scrub the memories of fly ball after fly ball from Luke Scott going over that right field wall.
I thought I was a man, but Scott's five home runs in this series have regressed me into a whimpering, sobbing baby. Every time I see him smile that "Gosh, I don't know how I keep doing this; I'm just a vessel for a higher power, but it sure is fun to be Luke Scott right now" smile, I fall to my knees, put on a diaper, roll onto my back, and just kick and stomp until I'm all tired out, or someone gives me a pacifier coated in honey, and/or changes my diaper). Boy, it feels good to type that, to unburden myself. Thank you for reading.
Where were we? Oh, today's game. Rookie pitchers David Hernandez and Brad Bergesen made Detroit's bats appear feeble in the first two games of this series. Somehow, the Tigers have struggled against fledging pitchers this season. So how good could Jason Berken look today? In his first major league start, he held Toronto to two runs in five innings, though he allowed seven hits and three walks.
Edwin Jackson didn't pitch his best baseball last time out, giving up seven hits and striking out a season-low two batters. But lack of run support and a throwing error that resulted in two runs worked against him in a loss to the Royals. On the bright side, he threw only 89 pitches, so maybe he'll feel a bit more rested coming into this afternoon's game.
Jackson has faced the Orioles five times, having pitched with the Rays, and has an 8.31 ERA in five appearances (three starts) to show for it. His two starts at Camden Yards have resulted in a 12.46 ERA. Last year, however, he didn't lose to Baltimore. Of course, the Rays scored 21 runs in those two games. So some run support today would certainly help.
UPDATE: Curtis Granderson hitting cleanup, anyone? Here are today's starting lineups: