David Price beat the Cleveland Indians last week, but he's otherwise been shaky of late.
No one has been able to get to Carlos Carrasco recently.
Price takes the mound opposite Carrasco as the Detroit Tigers open a crucial three-game series against the visiting Indians on Friday night.
Detroit (80-66) enters the weekend just behind Kansas City for the AL Central lead and one-half game ahead of Seattle for the second wild-card spot. The Tigers are coming off their first loss in four games, 3-0 to the Royals on Wednesday.
"We won the series, and we're closer than we were when they got here. That's a positive," manager Brad Ausmus said. "You are disappointed any time you lose a game, especially now, but it is hard to sweep a series in the majors."
Detroit now turns to Price, who is 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA over seven starts since coming over from Tampa Bay before the trade deadline. The left-hander owns a 7.13 ERA in his last three after giving up four of his five runs in the first inning in Saturday's 5-4 defeat to San Francisco.
"I need to be able to execute a pitch right there and get off the field. I didn't do that, and I haven't done it since I got here," said Price, who threw 8 2-3 innings and struck out 11. "It stinks. I don't care if it's April 1 (or September). You don't want to go out there and pitch that way."
Price (13-11, 3.33) was also tagged for eight runs and 12 hits over two-plus innings in an 8-4 loss to the Yankees on Aug. 27, but he put together a terrific display in Cleveland in between.
He allowed one run and struck out eight over seven innings in a 12-1 victory Sept. 1, improving to 6-1 with a 2.86 ERA against the Indians.
Carrasco is 4-0 over six starts since returning to the rotation Aug. 10, posting a 0.70 ERA for baseball's lowest mark during that time. The right-hander struck out eight and came within one out of recording his first shutout in Sunday's 2-0 victory over the White Sox.
"I'll tell you what, it's been so nice," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "You put a guy in the rotation and you certainly hope for the best, but my goodness. He looks so strong."
Carrasco (7-4, 2.69) allowed a season-worst 10 hits against the Tigers on Sept. 2 but managed to limit the damage, yielding one run and striking out a career-high 10 over 5 1-3 innings. He is 1-4 with an 8.78 ERA in six starts against Detroit.
Torii Hunter is 6 for 15 with four extra-base hits - two homers - in their matchups.
The Indians (76-69) are looking to make it three in a row after sweeping Thursday's doubleheader against Minnesota. Carlos Santana went a combined 3 for 8 with two homers and four RBIs as Cleveland climbed within 3 1/2 games of the Tigers.
"Heading to Detroit, you want to be on a high note. We have three big games ahead of us. You want to make sure you win them all," Game 2 winning pitcher T.J. House said. "I'm excited with where we're headed. We have a good ballclub and we're (going) in the right direction."
The Indians have been outscored 32-15 in dropping four of their last five against the Tigers. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is batting .450 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 10 games this month and .415 with 12 extra-base hits in the series this year.
