Detroit @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2013 ) Detroit 5, Cleveland 1

Danny Salazar's debut ranks among the best of the season. The Cleveland Indians would like an encore performance from their hard-throwing right-hander as he faces the visiting Detroit Tigers in the third of a four-game series Wednesday. Detroit extended its winning streak to 10 games - and its American League Central Division lead over the Indians to five - with a 5-1 victory Tuesday.

Salazar faces a formidable Tigers lineup highlighted by Miguel Cabrera, who joined some elite company Tuesday as the sixth player in history to record 10 consecutive 100-RBI seasons. Cabrera has been one of the biggest reasons for Detroit's prolonged success against its division rival this season, hitting five home runs and adding 15 RBIs in 14 meetings with Cleveland. Salazar will be opposed by Detroit right-hander Doug Fister, who has won four straight starts.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (10-5, 3.52 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (1-0, 1.50)

Fister has locked opposing hitters down since allowing six runs in back-to-back starts against Toronto and Cleveland in early July. The 29-year-old has surrendered five earned runs during his winning streak, lowering his ERA by more than a half-run over that span. Fister is 5-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 86 1/3 career innings against the Indians, including a complete-game four-hitter just over a year ago.

Salazar kept the Toronto Blue Jays off balance in his first major-league start, limiting them to a run on two hits while fanning seven over six dominant innings. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was summoned to face the Tigers in place of Ubaldo Jimenez, who has struggled against Detroit in his career. "It's not rocket science," manager Terry Francona said of the decision to recall Salazar. "We're just trying to balance out Danny's career with us winning."

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians OF Michael Brantley has had the most success against Fister of any Cleveland hitter, going 9-for-28 with a pair of homers.

2. Detroit leads the season series 11-3 and has prevailed in seven of their last eight meetings at Progressive Field.

3. The Tigers lead the AL with a plus-143 run differential.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Indians 3