The Detroit Tigers entered the week tied for first place in the AL Central standings after sweeping the Chicago White Sox and poised to build on that momentum against the struggling Cleveland Indians.
Now, though, after dropping the first two games of the home series with Cleveland, Detroit is simply trying to avoid a sweep in the series finale at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.
Doug Fister (7-8, 3.27 ERA) starts for the Tigers. Fister gave up 2 earned runs in five innings in his last outing, a Tigers win over the White Sox, on Aug. 31. That was Fister's first start since returning from a groin injury. He is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in three starts against the Indians this season.
Cleveland counters with Ubaldo Jimenez (9-14, 5.61 ERA). Jimenez is winless in his last four starts. He hasn't lasted more than 5.2 innings or given up fewer than 3 earned runs in any of those starts. He is 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against the Tigers this season.
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