Detroit Tigers (87-62) at Oakland Athletics (67-82)
Magic Number: 2
Probable Pitchers:
Thursday September 15, 10:05p:
RHP Max Scherzer (14-8, 4.27, 154 K, 52 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Josh Willingham (3 for 5, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Ryan Sweeney (0 for 3, 2 K)
at
RHP Brandon McCarthy (8-8, 3.45, 108 K, 23 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Victor Martinez (7 for 18,4 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Jhonny Peralta (1 for 18, 6 K)
Friday September 16, 10:05p:
RHP Doug Fister (8-13, 3.06, 130 K, 37 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Coco Crisp (6 for 9, 2 3B, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Cliff Pennington (1 for 17, 3 K)
at
RHP Trevor Cahill (11-13, 4.32, 135 K, 76 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Delmon Young (3 for 8, 3 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Miguel Cabrera (1 for 10, 2 K)
What to Watch For:
1. Clinch Time - The Detroit Tigers could possibly clinch the division with an Indians loss and a Tigers win on Thursday. It would make the Tigers first ever American League Central division title. Their last divisional title came in 1987, as a member of the American League East.
2. Cabrera going for milestone - Going into the series, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has 102 runs, 97 RBIs, and 98 walks. He needs just 3 RBIs and 2 more walks to become the fifth Tigers player in history to have 100 RBIs, 100 walks, and 100 runs in a season. He will join Tiger greats Hank Greenberg (1937, 1938), Charlie Gehringer (1938), Rocky Colavito (1961), and Norm Cash (1961).
3. Fister dominance continues - Since coming to the Tigers at the trade deadline, Tigers starter Doug Fister has gone 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA. In his last 3 starts, he is 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 24 strikeouts.
On Deck:
Tigers continue the Oakland series on Saturday and Sunday and then it's off to Kansas City for a quick 2-game series beginning Tuesday.