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Orioles-Tigers Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 4:11 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (44-61) at Detroit (55-49), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have one of the top rotations in the majors, but their struggles have played a big part in the team's recent slump.

Edwin Jackson will try to turn things around when he takes the ball for the Tigers on Wednesday night when they continue a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Detroit's acquisition of Jarrod Washburn from Seattle had given the Tigers (55-50) three pitchers among the top 10 in the AL for ERA, including Justin Verlander and Jackson (7-5, 2.64 ERA).

Their rotation, which has the second-lowest ERA in the AL (4.19), hasn't looked so solid recently, though, with the starters going 1-5 with a 6.34 ERA during a 3-6 stretch. Washburn was the latest to struggle, giving up six runs in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to Baltimore (45-61) in his Detroit debut Tuesday.

"He's not going to be an issue for us," manager Jim Leyland said of Washburn. "He's going to be good for us. We have other things much worse than that."

Unlike Monday when the Tigers rallied from a five-run deficit to win 6-5, Detroit was unable to recover Tuesday after trailing early against Brian Matusz in his major league debut. Baltimore scored four runs in the fifth, sparked by Nick Markakis' two-run homer, to take an 8-1 lead while Matusz went five innings, allowing one run and six hits while striking out five.

"We did the job up and down the lineup tonight," said Markakis, whose team had allowed 34 runs during a four-game losing streak. "We got the big hits when we needed them and the pitching was just super."

Markakis is batting .347 (26 for 75) with five homers and 19 RBIs in his last 18 games. He is among the AL leaders with 76 RBIs.

With the loss, the Tigers' lead in the AL Central over the Chicago White Sox was cut to one game.

Jackson will try to help Detroit bounce back, although the right-hander is winless in his last three starts and is coming off his shortest outing of the season.

Jackson lasted four innings at Cleveland on Friday, allowing three runs - two earned - and eight hits in a 6-5, 13-inning loss.

Pitching at home could help Jackson get back into the win column. He has won his last four decisions at Comerica Park and the Tigers have won his last six home starts.

Jackson allowed two hits in eight innings of a 3-0 road win over the Orioles on May 31, striking out seven.

Struggling Jeremy Guthrie (7-10, 5.37) takes the mound for Baltimore, looking to avoid his third straight loss. He was tagged for six runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-5 defeat to Boston on Friday, finishing 1-3 with a 6.16 ERA in five July starts.

Guthrie served up three home runs in that game and has surrendered nine in his last five starts. He leads the AL with 26 home runs allowed.

"I don't have the explanation, I don't have the solution, obviously, or I would have hopefully corrected it by now," Guthrie said. "I'm willing to work as hard as I can to correct it. Obviously I'm not working on the right thing."

Guthrie gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings before leaving without a decision in Baltimore's 6-3 loss to Detroit on May 30.

Curtis Granderson is 4 for 8 with two doubles and a home run against Guthrie.