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Blue Jays-Tigers Preview

Jul 3, 2015 - 4:35 AM In danger of dropping below .500 for the first time this season, the Detroit Tigers are not ready to panic but won't deny their collective frustration.

They might not have an easy time keeping Drew Hutchison from recording a fourth straight winning start for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

En route to winning a fourth consecutive AL Central title last season, Detroit (39-39) never trailed the division leader by more than three games. After being swept in a three-game home set by Pittsburgh, the third-place Tigers are six back of Kansas City.

"I know we're frustrated right now, outfielder J.D. Martinez told MLB's official website following Thursday's 8-4 defeat. "I think we've definitely got to pick it up a little bit. ... I feel like now, going into the (All-Star) break, is when we kind of need to make up ground."

If the Tigers are to surge, they'll need to improve on a 6.20 ERA their starters have posted over a 5-9 stretch.

"We need to pitch better - there's no question," manager Brad Ausmus said.

Detroit, however, has averaged 7.3 runs while winning the last four starts by Anibal Sanchez (6-7, 4.63 ERA).

The right-hander, 3-0 during that stretch, didn't allow a run over 16 2-3 innings in the first two but has given up seven and five homers in 14 innings over the last two. Three of those homers and four runs came in seven innings while Sanchez didn't factor in the decision of Friday's 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

"When he's giving up home runs, it's balls not located where he wants them," manager Brad Ausmus said. "They're in the middle of the plate - maybe slightly elevated. There's no secret to it. When he's locating them, he's fine."

Sanchez is 2-2 with a 4.41 ERA in six starts against Toronto (83-79) and has not yielded a home run in the last four. Edwin Encarnacion has homered off Sanchez, but is 1 for his last 6 against him.

Hutchison (8-1, 4.99) has a 1.65 ERA in his last three outings but he's failed to complete six innings in each. He struck out eight and walked three while throwing 97 pitches through 5 2-3 of Sunday's 3-2 win over Texas.

The Blue Jays can use a longer outing from the right-hander after seven relievers followed Matt Boyd after he allowed seven runs without recording an out in the first inning of Thursday's 12-6 loss to Boston.

"They were hitting everything he threw up there," Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

Hutchison has an 8.92 ERA in eight road starts but is 2-0 thanks to a major league-leading 10.85 run support average.

His only appearance against the Tigers came in a 5-3 road win on June 3 of last year when he gave up three hits and struck out seven without a walk in seven scoreless innings.

Martinez and Alex Avila went a combined 0 for 5 with three strikeouts against Hutchison in that contest. Martinez, though, is batting .358 with 11 home runs and 24 RBIs in his last 16 games.

Avila has hit .200 with two homers and eight RBIs in 22 games this season but could see his first action since going on the disabled list May 9 with a knee injury.