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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers at Angels

Current Conditions - Anaheim

CLOUDY 62 °F
Wind: CLM 0
5-Day Forecast GAME: Detroit Tigers (24-26) at Los Angeles Angels (23-28)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 31 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Detroit Tigers aren’t scheduled to return to Angel Stadium again this season following this week’s series against the Los Angeles Angels, and that’s a good thing as the club has lost 16 of its last 18 at the ballpark. The Tigers head into Tuesday’s matchup against the Angels looking to get untracked after falling 5-1 in Monday’s series opener.

Jhoulys Chacin tossed a four-hitter and gave the Angels’ bullpen a much-needed night off Monday after the team used six relievers in a 13-inning loss to Houston a day earlier. Yunel Escobar, who has provided a spark from the leadoff spot while batting .306, sat out Monday’s game due to a wrist injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Tigers have lost three straight and four of their last five but received some good news Monday as Jordan Zimmermann (groin) successfully completed a series of fielding drills and appears ready to rejoin the rotation on Friday against the Chicago White Sox. Justin Upton is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in his last two games as he continues to struggle at the plate for the Tigers, who have scored a total of six runs over their last three contests.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Detroit, FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (3-6, 6.04 ERA) vs. Angels LH Hector Santiago (3-3, 4.58)

Sanchez has allowed 11 home runs in 53 2/3 innings, including two in Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to Philadelphia. The 32-year-old gave up six runs (three earned) with five strikeouts over six frames en route to his fourth straight loss. Albert Pujols is 7-for-22 with a home run against Sanchez, who is 0-3 with a 2.60 ERA in four career starts versus the Angels - including a strong seven-inning outing at Angel Stadium on May 29, 2015.

Santiago is looking to end the month on a high note after pitching a total of five innings and watching his ERA jump from 3.42 to 4.58 over his previous two outings. The 28-year-old allowed six runs (five earned) over 2 1/3 frames in Wednesday’s 15-9 defeat at Texas. J.D. Martinez is 3-for-9 with a home run against Santiago, who is 1-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 14 career games (seven starts) against the Tigers - including 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels activated Huston Street from the 15-day disabled list and optioned fellow RHP Mike Morin to Triple-A Salt Lake.

2. The Tigers are 2-13 when they do not homer in a game.

3. Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian has allowed one earned run in his last 17 games covering 15 1/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Tigers 5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins at Athletics

Current Conditions - Oakland

CLOUDY 57 °F
Wind: NE 3
5-Day Forecast GAME: Minnesota Twins (15-35) at Oakland Athletics (23-29)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 31 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Oakland Athletics attempt to close out the month with their second four-game winning streak in less than two weeks when they host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Oakland, which captured four in a row from May 15-18, made it three straight on its six-game homestand with a 3-2 triumph in the series opener.

Danny Valencia is 7-for-10 over his last three games for the Athletics, who haven't lost a home series against the Twins since being swept of a two-game set from May 18-19, 2011. Minnesota squandered a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning Monday and went on to have its season high-tying four-game winning streak halted. Miguel Sano went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games but had his string of consecutive contests with a home run halted at four. Sano and Joe Mauer, who also was kept in the yard in the series opener after going deep in each of his previous three games, have combined for seven home runs and 12 RBIs over their last five contests.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Tyler Duffey (2-3, 3.93 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Eric Surkamp (0-3, 6.55)

Duffey picked up his second win in three starts Wednesday despite surrendering five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings against Kansas City. The 25-year-old Texan has been tagged for 11 runs and 18 hits over 12 1/3 frames in his last two outings but has served up only one home run in his last four turns. Duffey, who never has faced Oakland, is 1-1 with an impressive 2.00 ERA in three road starts this year.

Surkamp will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to make his first start for Oakland since yielding four runs in 2 2/3 innings at Boston on May 11. The 28-year-old native of Cincinnati has surrendered 10 runs over 7 1/3 frames in his last two major-league outings after giving up only two in each of his first three turns. Surkamp has made four career relief appearances against Minnesota, allowing four runs and six hits in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Danny Santana left Monday's game in the seventh inning with a strained left hamstring and is day-to-day.

2. Oakland OF Khris Davis has belted 11 home runs in May, the most in a month by a member of the Athletics since Jason Giambi hit 13 in September 2000.

3. Minnesota is planning to send Phil Hughes to the bullpen when fellow RHP Kyle Gibson (shoulder) is activated from the disabled list on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Athletics 5