Athletics at Tigers
The Oakland Athletics have been dreadful on the road this season but a visit to Comerica Park and a matchup with the Detroit Tigers again proved to be a perfect tonic. The Athletics stomped the Tigers in the series opener and will look to extend their winning streak in the series to 14 in a row when the teams resume their four-game set Friday night in Detroit.
Oakland had lost three straight overall and 11 of 12 away from home before mauling the Tigers 17-3 behind a grand slam from Jurickson Profar to make it eight straight wins at Comerica Park. Catcher Josh Phegley also homered as part of a four-hit, four-RBI day for the Athletics, who last lost to Detroit on May 5, 2017. The Tigers will try to avoid matching a season-worst five-game slide but they have been outscored by a staggering 41-9 margin in the first four contests of their 10-game homestand. "This is a tough stretch, but you can't get embarrassed," second baseman Josh Harrison said after Thursday's debacle. "You just forget about it and try to win the next one."
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.78 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (2-1, 3.63)
Montas registered his second straight quality start last time out but again came away with a no-decision after striking out a season-high seven and allowing two runs on eight hits against Cleveland. A winner in four of his five starts this season, he pitched six strong innings in his previous turn and held Pittsburgh to one run on five hits over six innings. Nicholas Castellanos is 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs off Montas, who is 1-2 with a 10.64 ERA in four appearances versus Detroit.
Norris continues to acquit himself well since he was shifted to the starting rotation and is coming off a strong effort at Minnesota on Sunday, picking up the victory by allowing two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old worked five innings in each of his previous four starts, permitting no more than three runs or five hits in three of them. Norris had made only one start against Oakland, giving up five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 hits, and owns a career 4-13 record and 5.29 ERA at Comerica Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Profar has nine RBIs in his last nine games despite going 5-for-33 in that span.
2. Tigers INF/OF Niko Goodrum is mired in a 1-for-14 slump.
3. Phegley is 6-for-12 during a three-game hitting streak.