Detroit Tigers @ Oakland Athletics

When: Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 ET on TNT

Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (17-8, 2.64) vs. Jarrod Parker (13-8, 3.47)

The Detroit Tigers will send ace right-hander Justin Verlander to the mound Thursday night to stop the bleeding in what has become a nightmare scenario for the Tigers. After taking a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Athletics at Comerica Park over the weekend, Detroit has been unable to deliver the knockout punch in Oakland, losing back-to-back close games to force a Game 5. Verlander will look to repeat his Game 1 performance in which he threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out 11, his only blemish a leadoff home run to Coco Crisp.

The Athletics will look to rookie right-hander Jarrod Parker to close out another improbable comeback in what has been a miracle season in Oakland. Parker pitched admirably against Verlander in Game 1, giving up just two earned runs in 6⅓ innings of work, but may have to pitch the game of his life to push the A's into the ALCS. Game 4 hero Crisp and the rest of the offense will have to dig deep to best Verlander, but nothing seems impossible for Oakland at this point.