Edwin Jackson (9-5, 2.85) vs. 
Gio Gonzalez (4-3, 5.88), 10:05 p.m. EST
After doing what they do at home, winning four out of six, the Tigers hit the road once again, hoping they can do something different than what they've been doing. Against one good team and one less-than-good team, can Detroit expect to win three games? How about two?
Gio Gonzalez had been on quite a roll for the A's, winning three of four starts and allowing four runs in 24.2 innings. (He also struck out 26 batters in that span.) In his last outing, however, Gonzalez stumbled rather notably. Against the White Sox, he gave up six runs (five earned) in five innings, while walking six batters. As Gonzalez said himself, "You can't hide that." In two career starts against the Tigers, Gonzalez has an 0-2 record and 14.85 ERA. Giving up nine runs (eight earned) in one of those games will do that to a pitcher.
Edwin Jackson hasn't looked too sharp in three of his last four starts for the Tigers. Part of the problem has been getting a feel for his slider. Without that, opposing batters have been able to foul off pitches and make Jackson work more. Or they've just flat-out hit him, with 18 in his last 10 innings, including four home runs. Jackson has faced Oakland once this season, holding them to one run in seven innings. The Tigers' offense also scored 13 runs for him that night, so maybe they can continue a recent trend of giving him four runs or more.
Athletics Nation has your SB Nation opposing view for this weekend's series.