Detroit @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2012 ) Minnesota 3, Detroit 7
After dropping the final two games of their three-game series in Texas, the Detroit Tigers attempt to bounce back when they begin a three-game road set against the American League Central-rival Minnesota Twins. Detroit opened its series versus AL West-leading Texas with a victory that ended a two-game skid but was the victim of a walk-off hit Saturday and suffered its fourth loss in five games Sunday to fall two games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox.
The Tigers, who are one game behind Tampa Bay and Baltimore for a wild-card spot, continue their six-game trip against a Minnesota club that was swept in a three-game series at home by Tampa Bay and has lost four straight overall. The Twins had won five of six before their slide began in the finale at Cleveland on Wednesday. They could receive a boost offensively as 3B Trevor Plouffe, who has been sidelined since July 21 with a bruised right thumb, is expected to rejoin the team Monday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit, Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 7.80 ERA) vs. Twins RH Sam Deduno (3-0, 3.27)
Sanchez will be making his fourth start for the Tigers since being acquired from the Miami Marlins on July 23. The 28-year-old Venezuelan was tagged for seven runs and seven hits over just three innings in a loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Sanchez has yet to face the Twins during his seven-year career.
Deduno is coming off the shortest start of his career, a four-inning outing at Cleveland on Tuesday in which he yielded four runs on five hits and five walks. The 29-year-old Dominican has issued five free passes in three of his first six outings. Deduno, who will be facing Detroit for the first time, is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two home starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins OF Denard Span is day to day after leaving Sunday's loss to the Rays with pain in his right shoulder.
2. Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera recorded two RBIs on Sunday to raise his season total to 98 and is one behind Texas' Josh Hamilton for the major-league lead.
3. Minnesota C Joe Mauer registered his 1,219th hit Sunday, moving him past Torii Hunter for seventh place on the club's all-time list.