Opposite dugout: Tigers in middle of the pack, but still battling and still surprising

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st season)

Record: 10-13

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: RF Nicholas Castellanos (.330 with 16 RBIs), 1B Miguel Cabrera (.325 with 16 RBIs), OF JaCoby Jones (.275, .345 OBP), C James McCann (10 RBIs), LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.13 ERA)

Season vs. Orioles: 3-0

Pitching probables:

April 27: RHP Mike Fiers (2-1) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (0-4), 7:05 p.m., MASN2
April 28: LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (1-3), 7:05 p.m., MASN2
April 29: LHP Daniel Norris (0-1) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (1-2), 1:05 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Tigers:

In this miserable, cold month of April, the Tigers have been playing decent baseball and have been hovering just below the .500 mark through the first 23 games, which is better than most anticipated. Despite coming off a tough series loss against Pittsburgh, Detroit's youngsters are playing with confidence, the veterans are taking care of business and a few key hitters are beginning to get their stride. The Tigers enter today's series a perfect 3-0 against the Orioles after sweeping them last week and may be able to once again bring the momentum and take advantage of a struggling Baltimore team. Detroit has lost three of four after winning five of six, and is in second place in the American League Central despite a record that's three games below .500.

A healthy first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been beneficial for the Tigers. He's starting to look like his old self again after a rough 2017 season, hitting .325 and tied for the team lead with 16 RBIs. Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is also a force to be reckoned with - in his last nine games he's, batting .385 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. He's tied for the American League with two triples (which he did in back-to-back games April 1-2) and tied for third with 10 multi-hit games. After a slow start to the season, catcher James McCann is riding an eight-game hit streak since April 13, batting .344 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs. Outfielder JaCoby Jones, a replacement for optioned Mikie Mahtook, is providing the Tigers with elite defense, smart baserunning and just had an impressive seven-game hit streak, during which he hit .379 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and six RBIs.

Mike Fiers will start the series tonight for the Tigers. Despite some shakiness in his last start against the Royals, Fiers was able to battle and improve his record to 2-1 after allowing four runs (two earned) on 10 hits with one walk and no strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Southpaw Francisco Liriano, who entered the season as a wild card, continues to give the Tigers chances to win with solid starts. His last outing included five innings of no-hit ball until giving up a homer to Royals' Whit Merrifield in the sixth. Through four starts, the 34-year old is 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. The Tigers will turn to lefty Daniel Norris to close out the series on Sunday. With no wins yet and a 4.91 ERA through 11 innings, Norris returns to the rotation for his second start of 2018.

Right-hander Joe Jimenez did not allow an earned run in his first 10 appearances out of the bullpen (before allowing three in the opener of the doubleheader at Pittsburgh on Wednesday) and has shown much better ability in late-inning assignments. Starters are striking out fewer batters than last season, but giving up fewer walks as well, so there's somewhat of a happy medium going on. Overall, though, the pitching staff is third-to-last in the majors with 174 strikeouts (fourth-to-last with a 19.4 strikeout percentage), and are middle-of-the-pack with a 4.17 team ERA.