Baltimore @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2019 ) Baltimore 8, Detroit 2

The Baltimore Orioles are playing like a team that has no interest in picking at the top of the draft in consecutive seasons. The Orioles will try to secure a series win and move 5 1/2 games in front of the Detroit Tigers when they visit for the finale of the four-game set between the bottom two teams in the majors.

Baltimore dropped the second game of the series in extra innings on Saturday to reach 100 losses but bounced back with an 8-2 victory on Sunday, highlighted by Rio Ruiz's tie-breaking home run in the third inning. The Orioles, who drafted Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the top overall pick in June, are winners of three of their last five games and will face only one team with a winning record - a three-game series at Boston to close the season - the rest of the way. The Tigers, who drafted No. 1 overall in 2018, need at least two wins in their final seven home games to avoid becoming the first team in history to drop 60 contests at home in a season. Detroit will try to earn that win behind Tyler Alexander on Monday while Baltimore counters with fellow left-hander John Means.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH John Means (10-10, 3.47 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Tyler Alexander (0-3, 5.40)

Means is pitching strong down the stretch and allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts. The 26-year-old All-Star held the National League-leading Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday but did not get a decision. Means struck out seven and yielded one run on three hits at home against Detroit on May 29 without factoring in the decision.

Alexander is still looking for his first major league win and is returning to the rotation on Monday after spending the last five weeks in the bullpen. The 25-year-old worked four innings against the New York Yankees in his last outing on Tuesday and was charged with two runs on as many hits. Alexander, who is seeing Baltimore for the first time, yielded a total of three runs across 11 innings over his last three appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera (knee soreness) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.

2. Orioles SS-2B Jonathan Villar stole his 35th base on Sunday, which is third-most in the American League.

3. Detroit CF Harold Castro is 16-for-29 over his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Tigers 2