Opposite dugout: Tigers are in unfamiliar territory as trade deadline nears (updated)

Manager: Brad Ausmus (2nd season)

Record: 49-52

Last 10 games: 4-6

Who to watch: SS Jose Iglesias (.313, 10 SB), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.289 with 17 HR, 58 RBIs), RF J.D. Martinez (.286 with 27 HR, 63 RBIs), 2B Ian Kinsler (.280, 44 RBIs), RHP Joakin Soria (23 saves, 1.03 WHIP)

Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2

Pitching probables:

July 30: RHP Alfredo Simon vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN
July 31: RHP Buck Farmer vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 7:05 p.m. MASN2
Aug. 1: RHP Anibal Sanchez vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
Aug. 2: LHP Daniel Norris vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Tigers:

With the non-waiver trading deadline looming at 4 p.m. tomorrow, the Tigers are in an uncomfortable position, unsure whether they're buyers and in the American League Central race, or sellers ready to rebuild for the future. With Detroit trailing the first-place Kansas City Royals by 12 1/2 games, and with the second-place Minnesota Twins and third-place Chicago White Sox to leapfrog, general manager David Dombrowski is in unfamiliar territory. Who thought the Tigers would be in fourth place in the Central as the trade deadline approaches, much less on the wrong side of .500? First, Dombrowski said he was all-in for 2015, then he mentioned rebooting with an eye to the future. Who knows which direction he's leaning? But the clock is ticking.

That the deadline comes with the Tigers in Baltimore is ironic; both teams are flirting with .500 and have a lot of ground to make up. Bottom line: The Tigers who arrive at Camden Yards on Thursday for a four-game series may not be the same ones who pack up on Sunday and head home to face the Royals in a three-game series that could go a long way to deciding of Detroit can contend in the Central. That makes things tough on second-year manager Brad Ausmus, the former big league catcher who led the Tigers to the American League Division Series last year before the Orioles swept Detroit out of the postseason.

There's a lot to like about the Detroit offense, which ranks first in the majors in average (.275), hits (959) and on-base percentage (.333), second in total bases (1,495), and fourth in slugging percentage (.429). That the Tigers have been able to maintain their production since first baseman Miguel Cabrera went down with a calf injury in early July is somewhat amazing. But with right fielder J.D. Martinez hitting 18 homers and driving in 40 runs since June 1, at least some of the offense has been made up in Cabrera's absence.

Victor Martinez's return to the DH role after a stint on the disabled list with a knee problem helped, too - since mid-May, he's had five homers and 20 RBIs. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes has chipped in 17 homers and 58 RBIs, but he's one of the guys whose name has been mentioned most frequently in trade discussions. Dombrowski has at times in the past week said he isn't going to trade pending free agents like Cespedes and left-hander David Price, but that may just be posturing to exact a better deal from a front office counterpart in need.

While others have picked up some of the offensive slack with Cabrera down until mid-August, the same can't be the said for the pitching staff, which has been downright dreadful. They have the fifth-worst ERA (4.45) and the third-highest batting average against (.270). The Tigers bullpen is the second-worst in the AL with a 4.25 ERA. The Tigers recently picked up former Rangers closer Neftali Feliz to pitch the eighth inning, hoping he could provide an effective bridge to closer Joakim Soria, who has 23 saves. But in seven games, Feliz has posted a 21.94 ERA.

The Orioles have never faced right-hander Alfredo Simon, who filled a variety of roles - starter, long man, closer in Baltimore from 2008-2011. Simon came from Cincinnati in an offseason trade and started his Tigers tenure by going 4-0. But his ERA has risen from 2.67 through May to 3.52 in June and 4.46 in July. Opponents have treated him rudely on the road, where he's posted a 5-4 record and 5.57 ERA. Foes are slashing .304/368/.525 in their home parks against Simon, a guy who relies heavily on his fastball and splitter. Overall, opponents have a .281 ERA, while left-handed batters are hitting him at a .309 clip.

The Tigers recalled right-hander Buck Farmer from Triple-A Toledo earlier this week to replace righty Shane Greene in the rotation after Greene lost six straight decisions dating to mid-May. Farmer, who features a fastball/changeup combination and is slotted to start Friday, has made two starts this season and owns an unsightly 9.22 ERA, .373/.422/.661 slash line against and has been battered at a .438 clip by left-handed hitters. The four homers in 13 1/3 innings pitched are a serious red flag, as is his 1.90 WHIP. At Toledo this season, he's 7-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 16 starts. He's never faced the Orioles, so if the Friday evening temperatures and humidity are high, the ball may be sailing out of Camden Yards, meaning fireworks before the regularly scheduled postgame extravaganza.

Until his last outing, Saturday starter Anibal Sanchez had been cruising, winning six straight decisions. But on July 27, he went only 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits, taking his first loss since June 3. Sanchez has pitched to a 4.44 ERA in July after a 2.63 ERA in June, meaning his fastball is flattening out and his slider might lack some bite. It's a concern that he's coughed up 22 home runs in 136 2/3 innings, and right-handers have a .278/.317/.500 slash line as a result of the longball problems. Sanchez is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA against the O's in his career, with a 1-0 record and 4.46 ERA at Camden Yards.

Price starts Sunday's finale - assuming he's not traded by then, in which case Greene could get the call - and he's easily been the Tigers' most reliable starting pitcher this season. But he's lost his last two decisions after winning five straight decisions over a seven-start span. The Orioles have seen a lot of Price over the years because he started his career with Tampa Bay, and he's 7-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 career starts against Baltimore and 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA in eight lifetime starts at Camden Yards. A fastball that tops out at 97 mph remains Price's calling card, though he also possesses a curve, changeup and cutter in his repertoire. This season, he's flourished on the road, going 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts. In day games, he's 2-0 with a 2.06 ERA in eight starts. Left-handed batters are hitting the southpaw better (.267) than righty swingers (.233) this season, but he's been stingy on enemy diamonds, limiting foes to a .223/.273/.355 slash line.

Update: With Price dealt to Toronto, the Tigers have announced that lefty Daniel Norris will start Sunday's series finale at Camden Yards, making his debut for Detroit. One of Norris' 10 career appearances came at Baltimore, and he's 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in one inning of work against the Orioles, the epitome of a small sample size. This season, the 22-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts.