Detroit @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 13, 2013 ) Detroit 7, Oakland 3

After having their nine-game winning streak snapped, the Oakland Athletics look to get back in the win column on Sunday in the series finale against the Detroit Tigers. They’ll need to figure out how to slow down slugger Prince Fielder, who blasted his fourth homer in Detroit’s 7-3 win on Saturday. Fielder, who is batting .436, is 15-for-27 with 17 RBIs during his current eight-game hitting streak.

Oakland put left fielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained muscle in his left hand and is hoping center fielder Coco Crisp can avoid the disabled list. Crisp will likely miss his second straight game Sunday with a strained groin. He is listed as day-to-day. The Athletics are going to be patient with Crisp, who is hitting .333 with a nine-game hitting streak. “You just want to be careful, especially with a groin,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Comcast SportsNet California

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Jarrod Parker (0-1, 6.48)

Sanchez earned his first win of the young season last Tuesday, when he held the Blue Jays to two runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings. He has notched 13 strikeouts in his first 12 innings. Seth Smith is 6-for-13 with two homers against Sanchez, who lost his only start against the Athletics last season when he allowed six runs (five earned) while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings on Sept. 20.

Parker allowed two runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings last Tuesday against the Angels and has struggled with his control in his first two starts, walking six batters in 8 1/3 innings. Parker made one start during the regular season against Detroit last year, giving up two runs over 5 2/3 frames in a 3-1 loss on May 13. He also started and lost two games of the ALDS last year against Detroit, pitching 6 1/3 innings in each outing.

WALK-OFFS

1. Fielder is 0-for-9 against Parker, who hasn’t worked past the fifth inning in either of his first two starts.

2. The Athletics are 28-25 against Detroit since 2007.

3. Detroit RHP Octavio Dotel will miss Sunday’s game to rest his inflamed elbow.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Athletics 4