Detroit @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2012 ) Detroit 3, Minnesota 9

The Detroit Tigers appeared poised to supplant the Chicago White Sox atop the American League Central, but a string of five losses in six games has stalled that momentum. Not even a visit to one of their favorite venues could reverse the slide as the Tigers were pounded by the Minnesota Twins on Monday night for only their third loss in 14 games at Target Field. Detroit is two games back of the White Sox and 1 1/2 games behind Oakland for the second wild card slot.

After getting manhandled in a three-game sweep at home by the Tampa Bay Rays, the Twins unleashed their frustrations on the Tigers with an 18-hit attack. Ryan Doumit had three hits, including a three-run homer. It was his fourth blast in the past eight games, giving him nine RBIs during that span. Doumit, who has hit safely in 10 of 11 games this month, homered off reliever Duane Below, who was sent to Triple-A Toledo after the game.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSNO (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (6-7, 3.48 ERA) vs. Twins LH Brian Duensing (2-7, 4.46)

Fister had another solid effort in a no-decision last time out, limiting the New York Yankees to two runs in 6 1/3 innings. He has yielded only nine runs in his last six starts, dropping his ERA from 4.75 to 3.48. The Twins have been a nemesis for Fister, who is only 1-6 with a 4.36 ERA in seven career starts against them and is 0-2 at Target Field.

Duensing labored through a season-high seven innings last time out, but he also surrendered six runs - four earned - on a season-worst 11 hits in a 6-2 loss at Cleveland. Duensing, who will be making his eighth start of the year, has been pelted for 21 hits in his last two outings. He is 2-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 19 appearances (eight starts) against Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera needs one RBI for his ninth straight 100-RBI season. He would become the first Tiger to drive in 100 runs in five straight years since Charlie Gehringer in 1936.

2. Twins RF Darin Mastroianni had his second three-hit game - and both have come against Detroit. He is 6-for-8 against the Tigers.

3. Detroit's pitching staff has yielded an average of just over 12 hits in the last nine games, including at least 17 on three occasions.