(Photo credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

The Detroit Tigers will look to their ace to end another losing streak -- if he's in uniform on Saturday.

Left-hander Tarik Skubal was placed on the paternity list this week but is expected to start against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the third contest of a four-game series between division leaders.

The Tigers have lost five straight games and the Blue Jays have won three in a row.

In Skubal's last start on Sunday, the Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Skubal (10-3, 2.19 ERA) wound up with a no-decision in that contest. The 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner lasted 6 2/3 innings and struck out 11. The lone Rangers run came home on a Tyler Holton wild pitch.

'I expect every time I go out there to put our team in a position to win, and we were able to do that,' said Skubal, who is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Toronto.

Detroit's lead in the American League Central has shrunk to 7 1/2 games over the Cleveland Guardians. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he believes the slide is just the product of a 162-game marathon.

'I've managed 100-plus-win teams that have gone through six- and seven- and eight-game losing streaks or lost 12 of 13 one year,' he said. 'And you don't think of that because we forget over time there's going to be a time that we all forget about this.'

Right-hander Kevin Gausman (7-7, 4.01 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays on Saturday. He's coming off one of his best outings of the season, a seven-inning gem Monday against the New York Yankees in which he allowed one run and four hits while striking out eight in a 4-1 victory.

'He was unbelievable,' shortstop Bo Bichette said. 'I think that's what we expect from him, always. He was really hitting his spots. It's fun to watch him.'

In his previous three starts, Gausman didn't go longer than 5 2/3 innings while throwing at least 96 pitches. He required only 86 in his seven-inning stint.

'That's Kev,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. '(Pitching coach Pete Walker) and I were joking before the game that we needed a gem from Kevin. He did it.'

Gausman has made 13 career starts against the Tigers, posting a 4-3 record and a 3.40 ERA. In Detroit's home park, Gausman is 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts.

The Blue Jays, who lead the AL East by 5 1/2 games over the New York Yankees, have 51 runs since the All-Star break, going 7-1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has led the attack during the last six games. He has five multi-hit games during that span with four doubles and a homer.

He has five hits in the first two games of this series while scoring four runs and knocking in three.

'Any year, you can look up and Vlad can hit 50 homers or he can hit 20. It's what we need from him every night,' Schneider said. 'There's going to be a time where he's hitting homers in bunches, and that's great. Comparing it to other seasons, it's kind of tough for me because I've seen him for so long, and what he's doing right now doesn't look wrong.'

Spencer Torkelson has been one of the few bright spots for the Tigers, homering in each game of this series.

--Field Level Media