Opposite dugout: Tigers boast offense, but pitching has been an issue

Manager: Brad Ausmus (2nd season)

Record: 44-44

Last 10 games: 5-5

Who to watch: SS Jose Iglesias (.314, 9 SB), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.297 with 13 HR, 51 RBIs), RF J.D. Martinez (.289/.347/.565 with 25 HR, 59 RBIs), LHP David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA), RHP Joakim Soria (3.38 ERA, 20 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (5-1 in 2014)

Pitching probables:

July 17: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez, 7:08 p.m., MASN2
July 18: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP David Price, 7:08 p.m., MASN2
July 19: RHP Miguel Gonzalez vs. RHP Justin Verlander, 1:08 p.m. MASN2

Inside the Tigers:

The Tigers and Orioles bring identical 44-44 records into this weekend series, and the clubs will meet seven times between now and Aug. 2. Were they in the American League East instead of the AL Central, the Tigers would be four games off the division lead instead of trailing the front-running Royals by nine games. Most experts thought Detroit's power-laden offense and strong-armed rotation would be enough to keep the Royals out of the top spot in the Central. Guess that's why titles are won between the white lines and not on paper.

The Orioles catch the Tigers at an opportune time. Detroit has dropped three straight, the Tigers' bullpen is a mess and they're without slugging first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who is on the disabled list nursing a calf injury that will keep him on the shelf until mid-August. Even without their marquee player since July 3, the Tigers still lead the majors in average (.281), hits (862) and on-base percentage (.337), and rank third in slugging percentage (.434). So they're hardly a one-man team.

Right fielder J.D. Martinez has exploded for 25 homers, third-most in the AL, and shows no signs of slowing down. He leads the Tigers in homers and with 59 RBIs, and he's gone deep 16 times since June 6. Martinez was joined on the AL All-Star squad by teammate Jose Iglesias, whose .314 average may be a bit of a surprise, though his slick fielding at shortstop has not been at all unexpected. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes is prone to hot and cold streaks, but his 13 homers and 51 RBIs are helping to make up for Cabrera's absence. Likewise, veteran designated hitter Victor Martinez is rounding into form and slashing .346/370/.615 in July after missing a month with left knee inflammation. Cabrera would make this very formidable offense a lot more dangerous, but without him, they're still pretty capable.

If it weren't for some very shaky pitching, the Tigers might be on the Royals' heels, instead of trying to leapfrog the surprising Twins to get to the defending AL champs. Detroit's 4.31 ERA is next-to-last in the AL, and the Tigers have allowed the most home runs (98), have the fourth-fewest strikeouts (613) and possess the third-worst WHIP (1.33). The bullpen has been particularly dreadful, posting a 3.97 ERA, sixth-worst in the majors, and is tied with Colorado for the worst opponents' batting average (.270). Closer Joakim Soria's 1.07 WHIP looks good, but he's blown three saves in 23 tries and has a 3.38 ERA, so he's not a lockdown ninth-inning option. Middle relief and set-up guys have struggled; the Tigers recently cut Joba Chamberlain and signed ex-Rangers closer Neftali Feliz. But it's clear that turning over a lead to the bullpen in the sixth or seventh innings comes with a handful of antacid tablets.

Still, the three guys who will face the Orioles this weekend have three no-hitters, two Cy Young Awards and an AL MVP among them. And the first two Tigers slated to work after the All-Star break are a combined 10-0 in their last 13 starts. Not too shabby, especially for a staff with such dubious numbers.

Right-hander Anibal Sanchez gets the nod in Friday's opener at Comerica Park, and has been on a roll - he's 5-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his last six games. He's struggled a little at home - going 5-4 with a 4.87 ERA - but has gone at least six innings in 15 of his 18 starts this season. He's a five-pitch pitcher, though he relies mainly on his fastball, changeup and slider. Sanchez is holding foes to a .231 batting average and he's tough on lefties, who are hitting .205 against him. But he's had trouble limiting the damage, as opponents' .290 average with runners in scoring position suggests. And he's been prone to the longball, serving up 19 homers in 118 2/3 innings; in 308 innings over the 2013-2014 campaigns, he was touched for only 13 homers. Sanchez has made two career starts against the Orioles, going 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA.

Saturday starter David Price is 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last seven starts, and hasn't been tagged with a loss since May 31. July is traditionally his best month each season - he's 21-9 with a 2.97 ERA in the month over his career. The lefty is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in eight home starts in 2015, but left-handed batters are hitting him better (.267) than right-handed swingers (.243). Because of the years he spent in Tampa Bay, Price has seen plenty of the Orioles in his career. He's 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 17 lifetime starts versus Baltimore.

While Sanchez has a no-hitter to his credit and Price won a Cy Young with Tampa Bay, the rest of the aforementioned gaudy honors belong to right-hander Justin Verlander, who will start Sunday's series finale. But this has been a rough season for Verlander, who spent most of the first half on the DL with a right triceps injury and then skipped a start with back problems once he was activated. He's made five starts this season and is still searching for his first victory, though he has pitched at least five innings in each of his five starts. But Verlander is no longer throwing heat by foes - he's given up six homers in 30 1/3 innings, and his once-dominant fastball, while still clocked as high as 97 mph, only averages about 93 mph. He changes speeds with an 81 mph curve and gets movement with an 86 mph slider, but hasn't been fooling most hitters. Opponents are batting .265 against him and lefties have a .271 mark. He toughens with runners in scoring position, allowing only a .190 average, but has had trouble early in games. From his first through 15th pitches, opposing hitters are slashing .400/.471/.667 against him. Verlander has made 15 career starts against the Orioles, going 9-2 with a 3.43 ERA.