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Blue Jays-Tigers Preview

Jul 4, 2015 - 4:21 AM Though their latest slide has ended, the main concern facing the Detroit Tigers is the health of star Miguel Cabrera.

With the two-time AL MVP expected to land on the disabled list, the Tigers move on by trying to build on a needed victory Saturday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Cabrera was 2 for 2 with an RBI before he suffered a strained left calf in Detroit's five-run fourth inning in Friday's 8-6 victory. Among the major league leaders in batting average (.350), RBIs (54) and OPS (1.034), Cabrera limped off the field on his own power then underwent an MRI.

''I'm not optimistic at all,'' said manager Brad Ausmus, who noted that Cabrera was to be further evaluated Saturday. ''When Miggy says he can't play, it is serious, because Miggy plays through everything.''

Cabrera has played all but two games for the Tigers (40-39), who broke out after being swept in a three-game series by Pittsburgh. Cabrera's injury came the same night catcher Alex Avila went 0 for 2 while playing for the first time since going on the DL May 9 with a knee injury.

''I can't sit here and say we'll be fine, because (Cabrera's) the best hitter in baseball, at least in my eyes,'' outfielder J.D. Martinez said. ''But if you look at our lineup, we've still got a lot of weapons.''

Martinez is one of them, batting .366 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs in his last 17 games.

Detroit's starting pitchers have a 6.04 ERA in the last eight games, but Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the eighth before he allowed four of Toronto's six runs in that inning.

''That's the mentality of this team,'' said Toronto catcher Dioner Navarro, who had three RBIs. ''We can score a bunch of runs in the blink of an eye, but it is tough to dig yourself out of that hole.''

The Blue Jays (42-40) lead the majors in runs (447) and slugging percentage (.447) but face David Price, who is 6-0 with a 3.07 ERA in his last eight starts against them.

Jose Bautista is batting .319 with five homers when facing Price (7-2, 2.62 ERA), and Danny Valencia, hitting .377 against lefties, is 12 for 17 with three doubles in this matchup.

Price, however, is 3-0 in his last five starts and had a 1.41 ERA in his previous seven before allowing four runs and six hits in six innings while not factoring in the decision of Sunday's 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

R.A. Dickey (3-8, 4.85) is 0-5 with a 5.79 ERA in seven road starts this season but 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA as a starter at Comerica Park.

The right-hander yielded three runs for a second straight outing Monday over six innings of a 3-1 loss to Boston. He also gave up three more walks, raising his total to 40 - third most in the majors.

''I'm in a stretch where I'm pitching just good enough to lose,'' Dickey said. ''I feel like I'm capable of more.''

Rajai Davis is 5 for 8 with two doubles against Dickey, and should be back in the lineup after sitting Friday. Davis is batting .306 during a 10-game hitting streak.