The Detroit Tigers' lengthy road trip has not exactly been brimming with success, and manager Jim Leyland's troops will be desperate to avoid dropping their third straight game on Sunday in Oakland.
Thankfully for the Tigers, 2011 MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander will be toeing the rubber against an Athletics lineup that features a handful of reserves, so there's plenty of optimism that Detroit can right the ship quickly before heading to Chicago on Monday.
Now a fixture in the No. 2 spot, outfielder Andy Dirks will look to extend his hitting streak to eight games against Oakland starter Jarrod Parker, while light-hitting infielder Ryan Raburn will try to keep his roster spot alive with a strong day from the plate. Former Tigers' third baseman Brandon Inge, who has been mashing the ball since being scoop off by waivers by the A's, will get Sunday off to rest.
Here are the full lineups:
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Andy Dirks - LF
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Delmon Young - DH
6. Alex Avila - C
7. Brennan Boesch - RF
8. Jhonny Peralta - SS
9. Ryan Raburn - 2B
Justin Verlander - SP
Athletics
1. Cliff Pennington - SS
2. Collin Cowgill - CF
3. Josh Reddick - RF
4. Jonny Gomes - DH
5. Seth Smith - LF
6. Josh Donaldson - 3B
7. Daric Barton - 1B
8. Anthony Recker - C
9. Eric Sogard - 2B
Jarrod Parker - SP
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