The set-up: The Detroit Tigers have lost 14 of 18 against the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians in 2016 but Miguel Cabrera's three-run HR with one out in the fifth, gave the Tigers a rain-shortened 6-3 victory on Wednesday in five innings. The Tigers had to wait 72 minutes before learning they had pulled out the 6-3 win, which followed a 12-0 victory Tuesday night (Indians won the opener of this four-games series 7-4 on Monday). The Tigers remain one game behind the Orioles for the second wild-card spot and after today's series finale with the Indians, will finish the season with three games at the National League-worst Atlanta Braves. The 91-67 Cleveland Indians are still hoping to get home-field advantage for the ALDS but they trail the Boston Red Sox by one game for the second seed in the AL with four games left.

The pitching matchup: Ryan Merritt (0-0, 1.50 ERA) goes for the Indians and Daniel Norris (3-2, 3.59 ERA) for the Tigers. Merritt is one of Cleveland's September call-ups and has made 24 starts in Triple-A, going 11-8 with a 3.70 ERA. The 16th-round selection in the 2011 draft has been up with the Indians three times this season, pitching just six innings spread over three relief appearances with one run allowed. This will mark his first appearance against Detroit and his first-ever MLB start. Norris is considered one of Detroit's precious young starters. He has been on the disabled list twice this season and while he owns just three wins in 2016 over 12 starts, he has permitted three runs or fewer in 11 of those 12 starts.

The pick: Not sure what to expect from Merritt but Norris looks as if he will become a regular part of Detroit's rotation, if he remains healthy. Allowing three runs or less in 11 of 12 starts this year is an impressive feat and he owns a 2.70 ERA against the Indians in three career starts (he's 1-0 and his teams are 2-1). Let's hope the rain stays away, as the Tigers are an 8* play.