Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics: Game 81 Preview, TV/Radio Coverage, Lineup

Jul 1, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher

(left) and starting pitcher

(right) celebrate after the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Detroit won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers (46-34) vs Oakland Athletics (51-32) — 1:08 p.m. 

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB Network

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 79 degrees, slight chance of rain

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Game Notes

The Detroit Tigers’ season will officially reach its halfway point at the conclusion of this afternoon’s regular season series finale with the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. The Tigers will also be going for the sweep of the formerly red-hot A’s, who came into this series 12-4 in their previous 16 contests.

Austin Jackson‘s 0-for-the leadoff spot on Sunday and Tuesday has not deterred manager Brad Ausmus from inserting him at that spot again. Victor Martinez is out again, J.D. Martinez takes his spot in four hole again, but will go out to the field and allow Torii Hunter to DH. View the full lineup below.

When We Last Met

Rick Porcello was absolutely lights out last night while earning his 11th win, throwing his second straight complete game shutout in the 3-0 victory. The two-straight CG shutouts puts Rick in select company in Detroit Tigers’ history, he is the first pitcher to do that since Jack Morris in 1986. Porcello has to be an All-Star, right? He’s now tied for the AL lead with wins. J.D. Martinez continued to rake and notched the big hit on Tuesday night, a two-run shot which, with how Porcello had been pitching, put the game out of reach.

Pitching Matchup 

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

June came and went without Justin Verlander (6-7, 4.80) recording a victory. He’ll get a chance to earn his first win on the second day of July when he faces the team he has tortured over the years, the Oakland Athletics. In 21 innings in the postseason against Oakland since 2012, Verlander has allowed exactly one run, including no runs in the last 20 innings. J.V. did not pitch at O.co Coliseum in May, and hasn’t faced them in Detroit since the regular season of last year, taking the loss on Aug. 27, 2013. The word that has continually been repeated for Verlander in recent starts is “encouraging.” He’s allowed five runs on 11 hits with 16 strikeouts over the past two starts (13 innings), but received a no-decision in each game.

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Journeyman starter Jesse Chavez (6-4, 2.94) has been all that Oakland has asked for. He picked up a no-decision in his last outing, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings of a 9-5 win over Miami. Prior to that start, he threw a seven-inning shutout and allowed just three runs in the two starts prior. He did not face the Tigers in Oakland.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

1. Austin Jackson-CF
2. Ian Kinsler-2B
3. Miguel Cabrera-1B
4. J.D. Martinez-RF
5. Torii Hunter-DH
6. Nick Castellanos-3B
7. Alex Avila-C
8. Andrew Romine-SS
9. Rajai Davis-LF

Injuries

Detroit Tigers

• Victor Martinez — Questionable
• Ian Krol – 15-Day DL
• Luke Putkonen – Out indefinitely
• Joel Hanrahan – Out indefinitely
• Andy Dirks – 60-day DL
• Jose Iglesias – Out for season
• Bruce Rondon – Out for season

Oakland Athletics

• Yoenis Cespedes – Questionable
• Derek Norris — Day-to-Day
• Josh Reddick — 15-day DL
• Kyle Blanks — 15-day DL
• Drew Pomeranz — 15-day DL
• Eric O’Flaherty — 60-day DL
• A.J. Griffin — Out for season
• Jarrod Parker — Out for season