The Detroit Tigers will visit the surging Toronto Blue Jays for the opener of a four-game series on Thursday. The set will take the teams into the All Star break, and while the Jays are riding a five-game winning streak I like the Tigers' chances of recording an upset tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Tigers hand the ball to Justin Verlander (8-6, 4.11 ERA) who held the Rays to a pair of runs on four hits in seven strong innings of a 3-2 win his last start. He fanned eight batters in that contest and ranks fourth in the league with 115 strikeouts in 111 innings this season. The Jays counter with Drew Hutchison (1-0, 5.40) who'll get the ball instead of the injured Marco Estrada. Hutchison has allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks with a pair of homers in 6 2/3 innings in the major leagues this season, and he could have asked for an easier opponent for this spot start.

2. Road Warriors - The Tigers have won five of Verlander's last six road starts against a team with a winning record and they're 5-2 in their last seven road games overall.

3. X-Factor - The Tigers' Ian Kinsler was 3-for-4 in yesterday's 12-2 win against Cleveland.

Selection: This is a play on the Detroit Tigers (10*)