Baltimore @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2013 ) Baltimore 5, Detroit 2

Manny Machado is the first player in the majors to reach 100 hits this season and the Baltimore third baseman looks to add to his total when the Orioles conclude a three-game series against the host Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Machado had two hits as Baltimore beat Justin Verlander on Tuesday to raise his count to 101 – which includes the most doubles in the majors with 33. Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera is second in the majors with 98 hits.

Cabrera had two hits but bounced into a game-ending double play to end Tuesday’s game as Baltimore closer Jim Johnson converted his 11th consecutive save opportunity. The Orioles have won seven of their last 10 games and are 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East. Detroit had a five-game home winning streak snapped and saw its AL Central lead over the Cleveland Indians chopped to 4 1/2 games.

TV: 1:08 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore), Fox Sports Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (7-2, 3.61 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Rick Porcello (4-3, 4.37)

Tillman pitched six innings of three-hit shutout ball against Boston in his last start for his fourth consecutive victory. He has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his last 11 outings. Tillman is 1-0 with a 4.07 ERA in four career starts against Detroit.

Porcello allowed three hits in seven shutout innings against Minnesota in his last outing for his second consecutive strong start. He gave up two runs (one earned) and three hits in six innings while beating Cleveland in his previous turn. Porcello is 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts against Baltimore and gave up three runs in six innings while losing to the Orioles on June 2.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy has four homers in June and three of them are against Verlander. Hardy homered in Tuesday’s win and went deep twice against Verlander on June 1.

2. Tigers 1B Prince Fielder has gone 13 games without hitting a homer.

3. Orioles 1B Chris Davis was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday after a six-game stretch in which he had four homers and nine RBIs.

PREDICTION: Tigers 7, Orioles 5