Detroit Tigers (28-20) at LA Angels of Anaheim (23-24), 10:05 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers will take their momentum further south in California when they begin a four-game series Thursday against the LA Angels of Anaheim.
The Tigers took two of three meetings with the Oakland Athletics and won Wednesday's rubber match by a 3-2 score. Former Oakland slugger Yoenis Cespedes cracked a three-run homer in the fifth inning and that was all the support Detroit needed.
Nick Castellanos finished with two hits and Kyle Ryan picked up the win with three innings of relief. Alex Wilson started for the Tigers and lasted three innings, giving up no runs or hits with one strikeout and a walk.
"Having myself out there or a guy who's capable of starting, relieving, going extra innings or facing one guy, I think it's a good thing to have," said Wilson.
Joakim Soria picked up his 15th save with a scoreless ninth.
The Tigers are one game off the AL Central lead and have a 14-8 record on the road.
Buck Farmer will make his season debut for the Tigers and is taking Kyle Lobstein's spot in the rotation. Farmer went 0-1 with an 11.57 earned run average in four games (2 starts) with Detroit last season.
In nine starts with Triple-A Toledo, Farmer is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA.
The Angels lost two of three meetings with the San Diego Padres to open a 10- game homestand and dropped a 5-4 decision on Wednesday. Garrett Richards was reached for five runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Angels, who have lost four of five games.
"Garrett kept battling but didn't have his best command," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Matt Joyce homered, Carlos Perez had two hits and drove in two runs, and Mike Trout finished 2-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.
Anaheim will also host the Tampa Bay Rays for three games on this homestand.
C.J. Wilson will take the mound for the Halos Thursday and is 2-3 with a 3.36 earned run average in nine starts. Wilson has allowed eight runs over his two starts and was touched for four and seven hits in six innings of an 8-3 loss at Boston on Saturday.
The left-handed Wilson has faced the Tigers 12 times (6 starts) in his career and is 2-3 with a 5.49 ERA.
The Angels went 4-3 against the Tigers last season and the two clubs will meet again at Comerica Park from August 25-27.