Minnesota @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2010 ) Detroit 1, Minnesota 5
With the All-Star break looming Sunday, a crucial division series gets underway at Comerica Park this weekend.
Detroit hosts Minnesota in a three-game set that begins tonight. The Tigers, behind a 16-8 record since June 11, have jumped into first place in the American League Central.
The Twins, who led the division for most of the first half, enter the series in third place and are two games behind the Tigers. Minnesota trails second-place Chicago by 1 1/2 games.
The Tigers are coming off a sweep of Baltimore and have won five of six. The Twins lost two of three in Toronto and have dropped five of seven.
Minnesota has won six of the nine games played between the two teams, but will face one of the hottest pitchers in the game in the opener. Justin Verlander has won nine of his last 12 starts, including five of his last six. He has lost once since May 31 and has pitched at least seven innings in seven of his last eight starts.
Verlander dominated Seattle on Saturday. He allowed one run, struck out 10 and walked one in seven innings.
Verlander lost his only start against the Twins this season, but he was the victim of a high pitch count more than anything else. He held Minnesota to one unearned run and struck out seven, but got the hook after 5 2/3 innings because he had thrown 121 pitches.
Miguel Cabrera, who is having another outstanding season while leading Detroit's offense, has a 16-game hitting streak.
Francisco Liriano, coming off a strong outing against Tampa Bay, starts for Minnesota. After winning four straight starts from April 15-May 2, the left-hander has won twice in his last 11 starts. Liriano's last victory came on June 11 against Atlanta.
A loser of his last three decisions, Liriano is coming off a rocky outing against the Tigers at home on June 28, when he allowed six runs and nine hits in six innings. Liriano turned in one of his best starts of the season against Detroit at Comerica Park on April 27. He struck out 10 and held the Tigers to four hits in eight innings.
Liriano turned in a similar performance Saturday, holding the Rays to one run and four hits while striking out 10 in seven innings. He left the game with a 4-1 lead, but Tampa Bay scored seven runs in the eighth and Liriano got a no-decision.
Liriano holds one of the most impressive stats for a starting pitcher. He has given up just two home runs in 105 innings. Both came on May 20 in Boston.