Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Detroit 0, LA Angels 10

The Los Angeles Angels try for their second straight three-game sweep of the visiting Detroit Tigers when they meet in Sunday's series finale. The Angels also swept the Tigers back in September at Angel Stadium. Los Angeles avoided the top Tigers' pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, but Detroit’s batting average is .179 over the last four games. Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson is 1-for-18 in that stretch, Prince Fielder is 3-for-17 and designated hitter Victor Martinez is 2-for-15.

The Tigers can be thankful their bullpen wasn’t exhausted after starter Rick Porcello couldn’t escape the Angels’ nine-run first inning Saturday. Drew Smyly followed Porcello with 5 2/3 scoreless innings to keep the relievers fresh. Detroit will face an Angels' lineup that has caught fire in this series. Leadoff hitter Peter Bourjos has six hits in the first two games and No. 2 hitter Mike Trout has three hits and six RBIs in that span. Every starter in the lineup has had a base hit for Los Angeles in the last two games except right fielder Josh Hamilton on Saturday.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (3-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (1-0, 4.00)

Fister has been steady if not sensational this season and he’s been supported nicely by the offense. He left after five innings trailing 3-2 in his season debut against the New York Yankees but the Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and went on to win 8-3. He then went eight innings in a 11-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and seven innings in a 6-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners. He pitched a similar game last July against Wilson and the visiting Angels, allowing one earned run and two hits in eight innings of a 7-2 victory. The only run he allowed came on a homer by Albert Pujols.

Wilson won his last start against the Houston Astros after failing to get a decision in the first two. He lost his matchup against Fister last July but came back to beat the Tigers in September, allowing no earned runs and four hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 6-1 victory. Wilson has handcuffed several current Tigers in his career. Jhonny Peralta is 1-for-17, Martinez is 3-for-17 and Jackson is 2-for-10. Torii Hunter, a teammate of Wilson’s last season in Anaheim, has homered twice in his career off the left-hander, but he’s the only current Detroit player to go deep off Wilson.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels placed RHP Mark Lowe on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained neck and recalled 2B Tommy Field, who had 13 hits in 50 at-bats over the last two seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

2. The Tigers have been shut out three times this season and were one out from getting blanked in Friday night’s 8-1 loss in the series opener.

3. Detroit’s team batting average has dropped from .307 to .278 in the last four games.

PREDICTION: Angels 9, Tigers 1