Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics: Game Time, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

May 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman

Josh Donaldson

(20) tosses his helmet after hitting a game winning three run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

After a soul-crushing loss early this morning, the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics close their four-game series with Detroit trying to salvage a series split to avoid losing their third straight series. The Tigers will play in this matinée affair from Oakland before heading up the coast for a three-game weekend series with the Seattle Mariners.

Detroit Tigers (29-20) at Oakland Athletics (32-21) — 3:35 P.M. EDT

O.co Coliseum — Oakland, CA

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 71 degrees, clear

When We Last Met

There have been several humiliating losses in the Tigers 2-8 stretch, but last night’s game may have been the one that sticks with you for much of the season. Aside from Torii Hunter‘s homer, Detroit could do nothing at the plate, so Anibal Sanchez had a very thin margin of error, and the only error he really made was allowing a double to Coco Crisp to lead off the ninth. At a season-high 110 pitches, manager Brad Ausmus made the right call by bringing in his closer. Joe Nathan promptly blew the save, lost the game, and wasted a gem by Anibal. A’s won 3-1.

Pitching Matchup

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Porcello (7-2, 3.88) had been terrific in 2014 up until his last start. He seemed to catch whatever is ailing the rest of the Tigers’ starting staff and was shelled for eight runs against Texas last Saturday. Rick was rolling along in that game until he was rocked for four runs in the fifth inning and then it was all downhill from there. It snapped his six-game winning streak. Porcello only faced Oakland over three innings in 2013 (regular and postseason), allowing no runs.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jesse Chavez (4-2, 2.61) has been solid this season and has allowed just two runs in each of his last three starts. The last time out, he went just over five innings and took the loss, 5-2 to Tampa Bay on Saturday. He did not face the Tigers last year.

Tigers Lineup

Injuries