The Detroit Tigers play the Oakland Athletics on Monday in Game 1 of their series. The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET. Listen to the radio broadcast below.
Detroit (28-18) has struggled for the past week, losing six of their last seven games. The Cleveland Indians swept them in last week's three-game series, and the Tigers managed to win only one of their four games against the Texas Rangers.
Pitching was particularly a problem in the Tigers' last two losses, in which they gave up 12 runs in each of the two games. Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander gave up six earned before being pulled after five innings.
"It's a rough patch, but this is a great baseball team," Verlander told the Associated Press. "That hasn't changed."
Oakland, meanwhile, has dropped their last four games. They're coming off being swept in their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who limited Oakland to just five runs over the three games.
"We caught them when they were hot and they handed it to us," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said.
Athletics pitcher Tommy Milone (2-3, 3.99 ERA) starts on Monday. Despite struggling through his firs five starts, Milone has seemingly bounced back and has given up just three runs and 12 hits over his last 19 2-3 innings.
Milone credited his turnaround to catcher Derek Norris.
"Really, the last three starts D-No's caught me, I don't think I've shook him off one time," Milone told the team website. "It's a really comfortable feeling knowing I can go out there and whatever he throws down, and I can execute it."
Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.97) is scheduled to oppose Milone. Smyly last played on May 22 in a 9-2 loss to Texas; he pitched one scoreless inning in relief.
