Detroit @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2016 ) Oakland 3, Detroit 7

Slugger Miguel Cabrera looks to turn up the heat on his already white-hot play at the plate on Friday when the Detroit Tigers begin a six-game road trip through California with the opener of a three-game series versus the host Oakland Athletics. Cabrera is hitting a robust .452 (19-for-42) with seven homers and 15 RBIs in last 11 games, helping the Tigers to an 8-3 mark in that stretch.

The two-time American League MVP also aided Detroit in winning three of four when the teams met at Comerica Park on April 25-28, going deep twice and collecting five RBIs in the series. While the Tigers (23-23) have crawled back into the thick of it in the AL Central, Oakland (20-28) dropped two in a row to West-leading Seattle and six of seven overall to fall eight games under .500. Khris Davis belted a homer in the Athletics' 13-3 setback to the Mariners on Wednesday and also went deep to highlight a 6-for-17 performance versus the Tigers last month. Detroit right-hander Michael Fulmer and fellow rookie Sean Manaea will be making their respective sixth major-league starts in this one.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (3-1, 5.13 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (1-2, 7.62)

Fulmer was dazzling in his last start on Saturday, striking out a career-best 11 and allowing just Evan Longoria's solo homer among four hits in a 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay. The lone blemish has provided cause for concern, however, as the 23-year-old has yielded five homers in as many major-league starts. His seven-inning outing was also the longest for Fulmer, who was a key cog in last year's deal that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets.

While Fulmer's last outing was a personal best, Manaea struggled for the second time in three outings in Saturday's 5-1 setback to the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old was blitzed for five runs in 6 2/3 innings just 11 days after getting shredded for eight runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 frames in a rout by Boston. Manaea's best start of his young career was sandwiched in between the disastrous outings, as he allowed one run on four hits to record his first major-league victory in a 3-1 triumph over Texas on May 16.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers veteran 1B Victor Martinez has rebounded from his recent 2-for-20 slump, going 7-for-16 with a homer and five RBIs in his last four games.

2. Oakland C Josh Phegley is expected to be activated for Friday's contest after being sidelined for the past two weeks due to a strained right knee.

3. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus will miss Friday's contest to attend his daughter's high school graduation.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Tigers 3