Detroit @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( May 29, 2013 ) Detroit 3, Pittsburgh 5

These are heady times for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who stand a season-high 13 games over .500 heading into Thursday’s series finale against the visiting Detroit Tigers. The Pirates have won 15 of their last 19 games and have recorded 18 wins in a calendar month for the first time since going 21-8 in September 1992. “They're the real deal, there's no question about that," Detroit manager Jim Leyland told reporters.

The Tigers have lost two straight to the Pirates, and they’ll likely be without right fielder Torii Hunter for the next few days. Hunter left Wednesday’s game after being hit on his left elbow. X-rays were negative, but Hunter doesn’t expect to be available Thursday. He’ll also miss games on Friday and Saturday in order to attend his son’s high school graduation. Fortunately for the Tigers, Miguel Cabrera isn’t going anywhere. He hit his 15th home run on Wednesday and leads the majors with 59 RBIs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-2, 3.65 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.45)

Fister bounced back from a shaky outing against Texas with seven solid innings against Minnesota last Saturday. The 29-year-old allowed three runs while striking out seven on a season-high 116 pitches. Fister, who is 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA in five starts away from Comerica Park, gave up four runs (two earned) over six innings in a 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh last June 22.

Locke won his fifth straight decision last Saturday, when he allowed three hits over six innings at Milwaukee. The 25-year-old left-hander brings a 14-inning scoreless streak into Thursday’s start and he hasn’t allowed more than three hits in six of his last seven outings. Locke has been outstanding this month, posting a 2.10 ERA in five starts. He’s making his first career appearance against the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Locke’s five-game winning streak is the longest by a Pirates lefty since Zach Duke won six straight in 2005.

2. Fister has plunked at least one batter in seven of his 10 starts and leads the majors with 11 hit batters.

3. Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker is batting .440 with three homers and five RBIs over his last six games.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Pirates 3