(Sports Network) - With their first AL East title in team history secured, the Tampa Bay Rays continue to tune up for the postseason with the third of four games against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Even though Tampa lost on Friday, it clinched its first-ever division crown with Boston's 19-8 loss to the New York Yankees. The Rays now await the winner of the AL Central in next week's ALDS.

Detroit made it two straight wins on Friday, as Gary Sheffield homered twice -- Nos. 498 and 499 of his career -- in the Tigers' 6-4 win over the Rays.

Justin Verlander (11-17) fanned eight in five innings, giving up two runs on five hits with three walks to get the win for the Tigers, who had dropped six straight before winning the first two of this series.

Andy Sonnanstine (13-9) gave up five runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks for the loss. B.J. Upton went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and scored twice for Tampa Bay, which swept a four-game series in Baltimore before coming to Detroit.

Getting the call for the Rays tonight will be righty Matt Garza, who is 11-9 with a 3.66 ERA. Garza, though, hasn't won since beating the Toronto Blue Jays on August 27 and hasn't pitched since September 17.

Garza is also searching for his first-ever win against the Tigers, against whom he is 0-3 with a 4.84 ERA in four starts.

Detroit will counter with lefty Dontrelle Willis, who will cap an extremely disappointing first season with the Tigers. Willis, acquired from Florida this past winter along with Miguel Cabrera, was never able to get it going in Detroit, spending most of his season injured or in the minor leagues.

In seven games (six starts) Willis was just 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA. He was hammered his last time out on Sunday in Cleveland, as the Indians touched him up for six runs and five hits in just 2 1/3 frames.

Tampa swept a three-game set from the Tigers at Tropicana Field back in early August. Last year, these teams split their four matchups in Motown.