Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics Memorial Day Game Time, TV/Radio Coverage/Lineups

October 10, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher

Joaquin Benoit

(53, left) and catcher

Alex Avila

(13) celebrate after game five of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One week ago, the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics were the hottest teams in baseball. What a difference one week makes. The Tigers limp in after a disastrous 1-6 week followed a 6-0 road trip to Baltimore and Boston. Oakland comes in losers of four straight after a sweep in Toronto this past weekend.

This will be the first of four games between these clubs, who have met in the postseason three times since 2006. Keep in mind, since today is Memorial Day, there will be a day game, and O.com Coliseum plays a lot differently during the day than at night. Drew Smyly and the Tigers’ beleaguered pitching staff had better take warning–the ball flies out of that stadium with reckless abandon during the day.

Detroit Tigers (28-18) at Oakland Athletics (30-20) — 4:05 P.M. EDT

O.co Coliseum — Oakland, CA

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny

When We Last Met

The Tigers knocked the A’s out of the playoffs in the ALDS for the second straight year, and for the second straight year, Justin Verlander delivered the knock-out, shutout Game 5 victory in Oakland’s building. In the regular season series, the A’s edged out the Tigers four victories to three losses. Oakland dominated Detroit at Comerica Park last summer (much how Texas manhandled them this past weekend) and was a Grant Balfour blown save away from sweeping a four-game series. In April 2013, Detroit took two of three games in Oakland.

Pitching Matchup

Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.97) will be looking to eat some innings for the Tigers and settle down the starting staff which has just one quality start in the last seven games. Smyly appeared out of the bullpen on Thursday, pitching a scoreless seventh in the 9-2 loss to Texas. Drew was okay in his last start, against Cleveland last Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and received a no-decision, but he was constantly in and out of trouble, driving up his pitch count and forcing him out after five innings. Smyly was hit hard against Oakland in the regular season, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings of relief. He fared better in the postseason, blanking the A’s in two appearances.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tommy Milone (2-3, 3.99) gives the Tigers a glimmer of hope of breaking out of their recent losing ways as they have done very well against left-handed starters this season. However, Milone is pitching pretty well recently and has recovered nicely after a rocky start. Over his last three starts, he’s allowed only three runs and picked up two wins and a no-decision during that span. He started and won one game against the Tigers in the 2013 regular season, but did not pitch in the postseason.

More from Detroit Tigers News

Tigers Lineup

Looks like Ian Kinsler is getting his first day off of 2014. Miggy is indeed starting and Torii and A-Jax switch spots.

Injuries

Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera — Probable
Joba Chamberlain — Day-to-Day
Luke Putkonen – 15-day DL
Joel Hanrahan – Out indefinitely
Andy Dirks – 60-day DL
Jose Iglesias – 60-day DL
Bruce Rondon – Out for season

Oakland Athletics

Nick Punto — Questionable
Ryan Cook — 15-day DL
Eric O’Flaherty — 60-day DL
Jake Elmore –60-day DL
A.J. Griffin — Out for season
Jarrod Parker — Out for season

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