Oakland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2013 ) Oakland 6, Detroit 3

The Oakland Athletics seek their third straight win to begin a four-game series at the Detroit Tigers when the teams tangle again Wednesday night. After taking the series opener Monday, Oakland secured a 6-3 victory against Justin Verlander on Tuesday in a game that was called in the sixth inning due to rain. The victory boosted the Athletics' advantage in the push for the second wild-card spot in the American League to three games over Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Detroit has lost four of its last five games at home and is just 9-10 since a season-high 12-game winning streak. Its advantage over Cleveland in the AL Central has only fallen from seven games to 5 1/2 games in that span. Following the series finale with Oakland on Thursday, the Tigers host the Indians for the final three games between the teams this season.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Dan Straily (6-7, 4.56 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (11-6, 3.54)

Straily is 0-5 with a 5.20 ERA in seven starts since being recalled from Sacramento on July 20. He has failed to get through five innings in four of those outings, including Friday at Baltimore when he allowed six runs on four hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old has never faced Detroit.

While Straily has struggled to go deep into games, Fister has lasted at least six frames in 11 consecutive starts. He let up a run in 6 1/3 innings at the New York Mets on Friday while posting his third straight outing without allowing a home run. Fister is 5-4 and owns a 2.45 ERA in 11 career starts versus Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland has committed 20 errors in its last 25 games after having 61 in the first 106 contests.

2. Athletics CF Coco Crisp has scored at least one run in six straight games. He is 10-for-23 with four homers and three walks in that stretch.

3. Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera is 3-for-19 in his last five games at home. He was 7-for-13 in last weekend's three-game sweep at the Mets.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Athletics 4