PREVIEW: Athletics at Tigers DETROIT (Interstat) — The Athletics and Detroit Tigers, two teams separated by a single game in the loss column and both mired in sub-.500 seasons, open a two-game series Wednesday night at Comerica Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT under a forecast of 84 degrees with rain. The Athletics (41-49) enter having lost four straight and seven of their last eight, including a 9-8 defeat Sunday to the Miami Marlins. Left fielder Jonah Heim provided most of the offense in that game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. The catcher/designated hitter has been inconsistent, however, going 0-for-7 over the previous two contests before Sunday’s outburst. In his last 10 games, Heim is batting .200 with two homers and 10 RBIs. Oakland’s pitching staff has struggled, allowing at least nine runs in three of its last four games. The Athletics have not named a starter for Wednesday. Detroit (40-50) comes in riding a three-game winning streak, capped by a 6-3 victory Sunday at Texas. Left fielder Riley Greene fueled the win with a 3-for-4 performance that included a home run and four RBIs. Greene has been on a tear, hitting .400 with four homers and 10 RBIs over his last six games. The Tigers beat the Athletics 6-2 on Tuesday to open the series, giving them a 2-1 edge in the season series. Casey Mize threw 6 2/3 strong innings in that game, and Kenley Jansen earned the save. Detroit’s pitching overall has been solid during the win streak, allowing three runs total over the past two games. The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-3 Tigers victory. Detroit is a -1.5 run favorite on the money line, and the over/under is 8.5 runs. After this series, travels to Chicago for three games against the White Sox, while Detroit hosts Philadelphia for three games before a road trip to Los Angeles and Chicago.