Athletics at Tigers
Mike Fiers already made history earlier this month by registering his second career no-hitter and has a chance to help the Oakland Athletics match a franchise record in the finale of a four-game series at the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon. The Athletics are seeking their 16th consecutive victory against the reeling Tigers, which would tie their longest streak versus any team.
Backup catcher Nick Hundley slammed a two-run homer and Chad Pinder went deep for the second time in as many days as Oakland made it 15 in a row in the series with Saturday's 4-1 victory. The Athletics also have outscored Detroit 28-6 in the first three games to make it 10 consecutive wins at Comerica Park. Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera has three of his team's nine hits over the past two games to move past Lou Gehrig for 63rd place on the all-time list with 2,722 hits. Detroit has been outscored 52-12 during its six-game losing streak and has not held the lead at any point during the slide.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.12 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Gregory Soto (0-2, 13.50)
After throwing 131 pitches to complete his no-hit gem versus Cincinnati on May 7, Fiers figured to be on a short leash last time out and wound up working five innings while allowing one run and two hits in a no-decision in Seattle. He was 0-2 during a five-start winless stretch prior to the no-hitter, surrendering seven of his nine home runs during that drought. Fiers, who made 21 starts for Detroit in 2018 before he was traded to Oakland, owns a 1-0 record and 2.93 ERA in five starts versus the Tigers.
Summoned from Double-A Erie to take a spot in Detroit's injury-ravaged rotation, Soto was rocked in his major league debut at Minnesota on May 11, giving up seven runs on nine hits in only four innings to take the loss. The 24-year-old Dominican, who never pitched at the Triple-A level and had only three starts with Erie, came back three days later against Houston and also took the loss, lasting only two innings and permitting two runs on three hits. Soto posted a 2.03 ERA in his three starts with Erie.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics also won 16 straight versus the New York Yankees from September 1989 to May 1991.
2. Tigers 1B Niko Goodrum sat out his second straight game due to flu-like symptoms.
3. Oakland 1B Khris Davis was scratched for Saturday's game due to hip soreness.