Tigers at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics try to solidify their grip on the final American League wild card spot when they host the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Oakland is 1 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland and one behind wild card leader Tampa Bay after Saturday's 10-2 victory extended its starting pitchers' unbeaten streak to 17 - its longest run since a similar stretch in 2004.
The Athletics, who were 36-36 on June 16 and 46-23 since, bounced back after having their 16-game winning streak against Detroit snapped with Friday's 5-4 loss in 11 innings. Miguel Cabrera is 12-for-26 during a seven-game hitting streak for the Tigers (42-99), who dropped 98 games in each of the last two years and are poised to suffer their first 100-loss season since 2003, when they fell a club-record 118 times. Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea on Sunday makes his second start after a successful 2019 debut and opposes Daniel Norris, who continues to work on an innings limit. “It felt awesome to be back,'' Manaea, who made his first start since Aug. 24, 2018 because of a left shoulder injury, told reporters. "Now, it was a long road back. It’s crazy how much has happened since last year. I’m thankful I went through this rehab process with an open mind. I just tried to work on things and get back into playing shape.”
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Detroit, NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-11, 4.76 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00)
Norris has pitched three innings in five consecutive starts as the Tigers continue to restrict the 26-year-old Tennessee native, who was limited to 215 1/3 frames from 2016-18 because of injuries. Norris has worked 132 1/3 innings this season after going three in Detroit's 6-5 walk-off loss at Kansas City on Tuesday, and nearly had his fourth straight strong performance until Jorge Soler belted a three-run homer in the third inning. Norris is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts against the Athletics.
Manaea received a no-decision after allowing one hit and three walks with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings of Oakland's 5-4 loss at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 1. "That's all we were looking to get from him and boy he's got to feel good about that," manager Bob Melvin told reporters about the 27-year-old Indiana native. Manaea, who won 12 games in each of the last two seasons, is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland's Matt Chapman on Saturday hit his 32nd home run, equaling the club record for a third baseman set by Eric Chavez in 2001.
2. Athletics DH Mark Canha on Saturday matched a career high with four strikeouts but reached base safely for the 22nd straight game when he was hit by a pitch.
3. Oakland is 22-7 with a plus-86 run differential against the AL Central this season while Detroit is 6-26 versus the AL West and has lost 35 of its last 41 such games dating to 2018.