Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 19, 2013 ) Detroit 1, LA Angels 8

The suddenly slumping Detroit Tigers will try to get back into their hitting groove when they visit the Los Angeles Angels in the middle game of their three-game series Saturday. The Tigers avoided getting shut out in consecutive games when Miguel Cabrera delivered an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning of the 8-1 loss Friday. After entering Wednesday’s game in Seattle hitting a major-league leading .307, the Tigers are hitting .193 in the last three games, scoring three runs in that span.

The Angels had two days off before taking on Detroit in the series opener and they looked like a different team than the one that started 4-10, their worst 14-game start in franchise history. They collected 16 hits in Friday’s victory, with every starter getting at least one. Luis Jimenez continues to look like the third baseman of the future for the Angels. He had two more hits in Friday’s win to give him four multi-hit games since he was called up from the minors April 12.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Rick Porcello (0-1, 5.11 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (0-0, 4.22)

Porcello is making his first start in 10 days because an off day in the schedule allowed the Tigers to skip his last start. He did make the first relief appearance of his five-year career in Sunday’s 10-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics, throwing two scoreless innings. Porcello is 3-2 in his career against the Angels with a 5.80 ERA. He made his only start at Angel Stadium three years ago Saturday and took the loss in a 6-5 defeat. Angels right-fielder Josh Hamilton is 3-for-10 in his career against Porcello with two home runs, but second baseman Howie Kendrick (3-for-18) has struggled against the right-hander.

Richards appeared in 30 games last season and five came against the Tigers. He made four brief relief appearances and one start, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 13-0 victory in Detroit last July. Richards began this season in the bullpen but an injury to Jered Weaver’s non-throwing elbow forced him back into the rotation. He made his first start last Saturday against the visiting Houston Astros, allowing four runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings before he was saved from a loss when Albert Pujols delivered a two-run walk-off double. Austin Jackson, Prince Fielder and Cabrera are a combined 2-for-12 off Richards.

WALK-OFFS

1. Porcello is 5-10 in his career during the month of April with a 6.02 ERA.

2. Tigers OF Torii Hunter, who spent the previous five seasons playing for the Angels, has hit safely in 12 straight games.

3. Cabrera has three hits or more in four games this season.

PREDICTION: Angels 8, Tigers 4