(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers wrap up what has been a long and challenging road trip when the current American League Central leaders finish off a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics this afternoon at McAfee Coliseum.

After splitting the first four tests of their 11-game trek, the Tigers have proceeded to lose five of their next six games. Despite those recent struggles, Detroit has managed to hold on to a one-game lead atop the AL Central because second-place Cleveland also hasn't been winning much lately.

On Tuesday, the Tigers blew an early two-run lead as Oakland halted a four- game losing streak by rallying for a 7-3 victory.

The Athletics scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead, then tacked on two more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Kurt Suzuki and Jack Cust each delivered two-run singles in the sixth to send Oakland in front.

Suzuki, Cust and Travis Buck all finished 2-for-3, with Suzuki knocking in three runs and both Cust and Buck ending with two RBI.

Oakland starter Dan Haren allowed three early runs, one of which was unearned, but settled down to pick up his 13th win of the year. The ace right-hander held Detroit to six hits and walked one over his six-inning stint.

Justin Verlander failed to hold up his end of the All-Star mound matchup, however, as the Tigers star was tagged for four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Sean Casey and Carlos Guillen each had two hits for Detroit, with Casey driving in a run with a second-inning double.

Ivan Rodriguez did not participate in Tuesday's contest for the Tigers, as the All-Star catcher dropped the appeal of a one-game suspension for his tirade at umpire Mike Winters during a July 12 game at Seattle. Rodriguez is expected to be back in the lineup tonight.

A pair of slumping left-handers will toe the rubber in today's rubber match, with Nate Robertson getting the call for the Tigers opposite A's rookie Dallas Braden.

Robertson attempts to rebound from an awful outing Friday in Anaheim in which the veteran was rocked for eight runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings to suffer a loss. He wasn't much better against Kansas City on June 22, surrendering five runs (four earned) and 11 hits in six frames during his team's 5-2 setback.

The 29-year-old is 2-2 with a 5.46 earned run average in four regular-season starts against Oakland, but stifled the Athletics in Game 1 of last October's AL Championship Series. Robertson delivered five shutout innings to help Detroit to a 5-1 victory and an eventual sweep of the series.

Braden has lost three straight starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in mid-July. The young southpaw's most recent outing was the worst of the bunch, as he yielded seven runs -- four earned -- on seven hits in just four innings of work Friday in Seattle.

The 23-year-old, who will be facing Detroit for the first time, has lost all five of his starts at McAfee Coliseum this year and has compiled a 6.08 ERA in 26 2/3 innings at home.

Oakland snapped a six-game losing streak against Detroit, which includes the 2006 ALCS, last night. The Tigers won five of the nine regular-season meetings with the Athletics last year and split six games at McAfee Coliseum.