Oakland @ Detroit preview

Oakland at Detroit

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2013 ) Oakland 14, Detroit 4

The Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff has been rocked by the Oakland Athletics’ surging offense, but the American League Central leaders hope to get some relief and avoid a four-game sweep Thursday as Max Scherzer tries to become only the second pitcher in the “live ball era” to open 20-1. Detroit is coming off a 14-4 loss and has surrendered 28 runs and 40 hits through three games. However, Scherzer has been dominant since the All-Star break as he looks to match Roger Clemens’ historic start in 2001.

The Athletics won only nine of their previous 23 contests before visiting Detroit - which holds a 5 1/2-game advantage over Cleveland in the AL Central - but has battered a pitching staff that entered this series with the AL’s lowest ERA. As a result, Oakland remains 2 1/2 games behind first-place Texas in the AL West and has built a four-game advantage over the Indians for the second wild-card spot. Brandon Moss led the way Wednesday with two homers and a career-high six RBIs as the Athletics pounded out a season-high 21 hits.

TV: 1:08 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (14-5, 2.97 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (19-1, 2.73)

After a stint on the disabled list due to a left groin strain, Colon returns to the mound for the first time since Aug. 13, when he surrendered five runs and seven hits over four innings in a 5-4 home loss to Houston. The 40-year-old was 14-3 with a 2.50 ERA through the end of July but gave up 10 runs over 6 2/3 innings in his last two turns after yielding only nine over his previous 49 1/3 frames. Colon has not fared well in 26 career appearances (25 starts) against the Tigers, going 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA.

Scherzer improved to 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing three hits and striking out 11 over six frames in Saturday’s 3-0 win over the New York Mets. The 11th overall selection of the 2006 draft only needs four strikeouts to reach 200 for the second straight season and has recorded 16 double-digit strikeout performances this season. Scherzer, who was stuck with a no-decision in his only meeting with Oakland this year on April 12, is 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in five career outings against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit, which has supplied Scherzer with a league-high 5.92 runs of support, is 21-5 in his starts.

2. The Athletics plated 14 runs on Wednesday, the 12th time this season they have scored 10 or more times in a game.

3. Opponents are hitting .144 against Scherzer since the All-Star break.

PREDICTION: Tigers 3, Athletics 2