Two teams hoping to play baseball in October meet this weekend at Oriole Park. The Orioles (85-68) host the Detroit Tigers (80-73) in their final home series of the 2024 regular season.

The O’s beat San Francisco 5-3 on Thursday, thanks to Anthony Santander’s two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning. When the Yankees later lost, they were four games behind in the American League East with nine games remaining, including three next week at Yankee Stadium. The O’s begin tonight with a three-game lead over Kansas City for the first AL wild-card spot.

Detroit, which won two of three games against the Orioles at Comerica Park last weekend, is now tied with Minnesota in the battle for the third and final AL wild card and sixth place.

However, Minnesota has the tiebreaker over the Tigers as they won the season series 7-6.

Last weekend, Detroit beat the Orioles 1-0 in a one-hitter on Friday, the O’s won 4-2 on Saturday and lost 4-2 on Sunday. Baltimore was beaten 7-6 in that series.

From 2017 to 2022, the O’s had a record of 11-22 against the Tigers, but a record of 6-1 against Detroit in the 2023 season.

But now the Tigers are on a roll, winning four games in a row, nine of 11 and 18 of their last 25 games. They have the best record in the major leagues since August 11, 25-10 with a run differential of plus-62. In those 35 games, the Tigers have scored 4.7 runs per game, but their team ERA of 2.50 is the best in the major leagues during that stretch. During that time, their pitchers have allowed just a .209 batting average, a .583 OPS and just 0.62 home runs per nine innings.

Detroit has a record of 15-11 against the AL East and 2-4 against the Yankees. The Tigers have been playing well on the road lately, winning 10 of their last 13 games. This year, their record in road games is 41-37.

It’s a challenging final home weekend for the Orioles, who would like to make up some ground on the Yankees before the series begins in the Bronx next Tuesday.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes (14-8, 3.06 ERA) starts tonight. His last appearance was Saturday in Detroit, and he was outstanding that night. He pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and one walk while recording seven strikeouts in 97 pitches. Although this was Burnes’ first scoreless start among his 30 this season, he has allowed a run nine times.

Burnes ranks fifth in the AL in both ERA and innings pitched, and eighth in opponents’ OPS at .632.

In his last four starts, Burnes has allowed one, one, two, and zero earned runs. He is 2-2 with a 1.57 ERA over that span. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer 20 times and has 21 quality starts, which ranks him third in the majors.

In four games against Detroit, he has a 2-0 record and a 0.82 ERA, allowing two earned runs and 10 hits in 22 innings. Detroit batters have only a .135 batting average against him and his WHIP is 0.636.

The Orioles will face Detroit for the third time in four games over the last two weekends. Left-hander Tyler Holton (7-1, 2.21 ERA) will start. He has made 62 appearances and seven starts this year.

He has been sensational since June 29, posting a 0.38 ERA in 47 1/3 innings over his last 33 games. Last weekend against the Orioles, he pitched twice, throwing 2 1/3 of them scoreless and earning one save. In his seven games as a starter, he has allowed just one run in 14 innings.

It’s possible the O’s will look to left-hander Brant Hurter as the bulk-innings pitcher. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings for the Orioles on Friday. He hasn’t pitched since.

Today’s squad change: The Orioles activated left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe from the 60-day injured list prior to tonight’s game. Coulombe, who is 1-0 with a 2.42 ERA, last pitched for the Orioles on June 8.

Right-hander Burch Smith was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 18 due to a right adductor strain.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster includes 38 players.