Oakland @ Detroit preview

Oakland at Detroit

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2018 ) Oakland 3, Detroit 0

A winning road trip is always a victory, but the Oakland Athletics have a chance for something far more impressive. The Athletics have won seven of nine on the 10-game trip that wraps up Thursday with the finale of a four-game series against the host Detroit Tigers.

Oakland has won nine of its last 11 overall, including three straight against the Tigers by a total of six runs. Chris Bassitt and two relievers shut out Detroit in a 3-0 win Wednesday, as the Athletics’ pitching staff continued to shine despite a recent spate of injuries. Detroit has lost a season-high eight straight and allowed 57 runs during the skid. Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer will try to stop the bleeding while continuing his strong pitching at home, where he has allowed one run over seven innings in each of his last two outings.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (7-6, 3.40 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (3-6, 4.17)

Manaea had a rough May, but he has been solid in June while going 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in four starts. The 26-year-old has posted three straight quality starts after striking out seven and allowing one run and five hits over seven innings in a win at the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Manaea lost his only previous start against the Tigers, allowing three runs and nine hits over six innings in 2016.

Fulmer threw five scoreless frames before giving up back-to-back sixth inning homers in a loss at Cincinnati in his last start June 20. The 25-year-old matched his season high with nine strikeouts but failed to record his third straight quality start because he didn’t finish the sixth. Fulmer is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA in two starts against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Tigers on Wednesday terminated the contract of pitching coach Chris Bosio for insensitive comments made toward a team employee and announced bullpen coach Rick Anderson will take over the position the remainder of the season.

2. The Athletics did not hit a home run Wednesday, ending their MLB-record streak of 27 consecutive road games with a homer.

3. Oakland CF Dustin Fowler is 9-for-25 during a seven-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Tigers 4