The set-up: Not much is going right for the Tigers these days, as they've lost five of their last six after a 2-1 home loss to Arizona on Wednesday night. Detroit is 30-34 on the season (four back in the AL Central) as it opens a four-game series at home against the 35-33 Tampa Rays, who despite a better record than the Tigers, are 5 1/2 games out in the AL East. The Tigers won six of seven over the Rays in 2016 but the Rays swept a three-game series from the Tigers in Tampa back on April 18-20.

The pitching matchup: Alex Cobb (5-5 & 4.29 ERA) starts for the Rays and Justin Verlander (4-4 & 4.68 ERA) for the Tigers. Cobb had a terrible start at Seattle on June 3 (allowed nine runs in just five innings) but bounced back in his last outing by holding Oakland to one run over six innings in a 13-4 victory on Friday. Cobb is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in five career starts against the Tigers (Rays are 3-2). Verlander hasn't won in his last four starts (0-3 / team is 1-3), allowing 12 runs on 26 hits over 19 2/3 innings (5.49 ERA). He is struggling with his control in 2017, walking 37 in 75 innings. However, Verlander is an impressive 8-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 15 starts versus Tampa Bay (Tigers are 11-4)..

The pick: Cobb will be making the 100th start of his career, while for Verlander, it's his 366th. The Rays allow 5.03 RPG on the road this year and the Tigers are averaging 5.43 at home. I'll back the vet and make Detroit a 10* play.