Detroit @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2018 ) Oakland 4, Detroit 2

The Oakland Athletics planted themselves firmly in the American League playoff race over the last month and are surging on their current homestand. The Athletics will try to push their winning streak to four straight games and keep the pressure on the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race when they host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Oakland seemed to lose its offense while managing four runs in a three-game series at Colorado last weekend, but the bats returned at home to help the team trounce the Toronto Blue Jays by a combined score of 24-6 in the three-game series. The Athletics are an AL-best 30-10 over their last 40 games and pulled into a tie for an AL wild card spot with Seattle on Wednesday after being 11 games behind on June 15. The Tigers are not in a fight for a playoff berth as they enter a rebuilding period but are playing well of late with wins in seven of the last 12 contests, including a two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds to begin the week. Detroit will begin its six-game road trip with left-hander Blaine Hardy on the mound while Oakland counters with lefty Brett Anderson.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Blaine Hardy (4-3, 3.61 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (2-3, 5.55)

Hardy is making his third consecutive start after rejoining the rotation and earned a win over Cleveland on Saturday while allowing one run and four hits over five innings. The 31-year-old is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 starts this season and owns a 1.69 ERA in 10 relief appearances. Hardy started against Oakland on June 26 and was ripped for six runs - three earned - on six hits and three walks across four innings but did not factor in the decision.

Anderson worked six innings at Colorado on Saturday and was reached for four runs on eight hits - two homers - in a loss. The veteran is making his first appearance at home since May 7 and just his second of the season after sandwiching six road outings around a stint on the disabled list. Anderson last faced Detroit as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays last September and breezed to a win while allowing two runs and five hits over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos is 0-for-15 over the last four games and 2-for-31 in the last eight contests.

2. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman is enjoying a career-best streak of 18 consecutive games reaching base.

3. Detroit RHP Mike Fiers (shin) had x-rays come back negative after being forced from his start on Wednesday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Tigers 2