Detroit @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Detroit 2, Kansas City 4

The only suspense left for the Detroit Tigers is whether or not Miguel Cabrera will be able to capture the first Triple Crown since 1967. The third baseman leads the league in batting average (.331), home runs (44) and RBIs (139) with one game left and has informed manager Jim Leyland that that he wants to keep playing. Cabrera will take on Luis Mendoza and the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Cabrera went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs on Tuesday and is 6-for-8 in the first two games of the series. The Tigers pulled him in the late innings Tuesday and ended up falling, 4-2. The Kansas City Royals are still fighting despite having been out of the race for the majority of the second half. Alcides Escobar homered and drove in a pair during Tuesday’s win, going 3-for-4 to snap out of a 5-for-34 slump over the previous nine games. Kansas City will be attempting to win its third straight home series in Wednesday’s rubber game.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSKC (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Luis Marte (0-0, 3.32 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luis Mendoza (8-9, 4.36)

Max Scherzer was scheduled to get the start after passing all the tests on his troublesome right shoulder but he twisted his ankle in the pile after Detroit clinched on Monday. Instead, the Tigers will go with Marte, who has never made a start in the majors. The rookie right-hander’s longest appearance this season was 3 2/3 innings against New York on June 1. Marte has not allowed a run in any of his last four appearances.

Mendoza has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last three starts, including last week at Detroit, when he was charged with four runs (two earned) on seven hits in seven innings. He did not factor in the decision in that turn. The 28-year-old has struggled against the Tigers in the past, going 1-1 with a 7.57 ERA in nine games - four starts. Cabrera is 4-for-11 with one home run and three RBIs in his career against Mendoza.

WALK-OFFS

1. Leyland said that the Tigers will go with an eight-man bullpen in the playoffs but has yet to lock down his starting rotation.

2. Kansas City closer Joakim Soria, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April, began throwing again on Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex in Arizona.

3. Royals 3B Mike Moustakas (groin) and 1B Eric Hosmer (right rotator cuff) have been ruled out for Wednesday.