The Detroit Tigers can win their third consecutive series with a victory Thursday afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels.
Since splitting a four-game set with the Twins to open the month, the Tigers claimed series with the Royals and Orioles, and are currently up 2-1 against LA.
It's a good trend heading into back-to-back series with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians, who figure to compete with Detroit in the AL Central down the stretch. The Sox are 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers, and Cleveland 0.5 games back.
Max Scherzer, 8-5 with a 4.84 ERA, will start for the Tigers. Scherzer is second in the majors in strikeouts per nine innings -- 10.99, second only to Steven Strasburg -- and is 3-1 over his last five starts.
The Tigers offense will go up Jerome Williams, 6-6 with a 4.67 ERA. Williams started the year well but is 0-4 with a 7.54 ERA over his last four starts.
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