The Detroit Tigers are on a six-game slide after getting swept in back-to-back series against Cleveland and Texas. They travel to Washington to try and turn their fortune against the Nationals starting Monday, and I like the Tigers' chances of recording an upset tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Tigers hand the ball to Anibal Sanchez (3-3, 5.87 ERA) who has had a rough start to the year, but the 32 year old has been decent lately. Sanchez has held the Indians and the A's to a combined six runs with 16 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings in his two most recent starts, and he has a good track record against the Nats going 9-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 21 career meetings. The Nats counter with Stephen Strasburg (5-0, 2.36) who has had a great start to the year, but he gave up five runs over seven innings in a 5-1 loss in his lone career matchup with the Tigers.

2. Situational - The Nats have much like Detroit struggled lately and they were swept by the Cubs in four games at Chicago in their most recent series. They lost Sunday's series-finale in the 13th inning, so they're returning home to Nationals Park with a depleted bullpen.

3. X-Factor - Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is heating up as the slugger has gone 6-for-10 in his past two games. He has batted .385 in his last 80 games against the Nats.

Selection: This is a play on the Detroit Tigers +1.5 (8*)