Getting a test from the Tigers

After facing the team with the worst record in the major leagues, the Orioles now play a three-game series against the team with the best record. Detroit is in town for a series beginning tonight. The Tigers are 21-12 overall, 8-4 on the road and their plus-37 run differential ranks second in the American League to Oakland at plus-61. The Orioles, by the way, are minus-2 and have been outscored 148-150 on the year despite leading the AL East at 20-15. The Orioles were actually outscored over the weekend 12-11 by Houston, but won a pair of one-run games to take that series. The Orioles have won their last nine games decided by one or two runs. Detroit recently won eight in a row, but did lose two of three to Minnesota over the weekend. The Tigers are 6-2-4 in 12 series, losing series to San Diego and the Twins. Detroit won two of three from the Orioles during the second series of the year at Comerica Park. The O's lost the first two games 10-4 and 7-6 before beating Justin Verlander 3-1 in the finale. The Orioles went 4-2 against the Tigers last year and 13-13 in the three seasons before that. The Tigers pitching staff ranks second in the AL in team ERA at 3.43 and first in starting pitching ERA at 2.73. Detroit leads the league in quality starts with 26 and is also first in fewest walks and third in batting average against. This will be a good test for an O's team that has won eight of its last 11 and is 15-8 over its last 23 games. How will the Orioles do in this series?