Detroit @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2012 ) Detroit 8, Minnesota 4

The Detroit Tigers broke out of their offensive slumber, collecting six extra-base hits in snapping a three-game losing streak against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. As usual, star third baseman Miguel Cabrera was in the middle of things for the Tigers, producing three hits and driving in a pair of runs to go over 100 RBIs for the ninth consecutive season. Cabrera, who took over the major league lead with 101 RBIs, has seven multi-hit games in 13 contests in August.

Detroit enters the rubber match of the series trailing division-leading Chicago by two games in the American League Central. Minnesota has played .500 ball since an ugly 10-26 start to the year. Josh Willingham has been a big reason for the turnaround, belting his career-high 30th home run Tuesday. Willingham has smacked 59 homers in 248 games over the past two seasons. Cabrera has hit the same total in 278 games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSNO (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (11-6, 4.65 ERA) vs. Twins RH Cole De Vries (2-3, 4.77)

Scherzer rebounded from back-to-back shaky outings to limit the powerful Texas lineup to two runs on eight hits in six innings last time out. He continues to rack up the strikeouts - trailing only teammate Justin Verlander for the most in the majors - but has also surrendered 21 homers, including one in seven consecutive starts. He's won his last two starts at Target Field.

De Vries is coming off the worst outing of his brief career, getting shelled for eight runs in 1 1/3 innings by Tampa Bay on Friday. The rookie has not won since June 30, going 0-2 in his last seven starts. He has been hurt by the long ball, serving up eight homers in his last six starts, and gave up a two-run blast to Cabrera in a relief stint on July 4.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cabrera is the third player in franchise history to drive in 100 runs in five straight years, joining Harry Heilmann (1923-29) and Charlie Gehringer (1932-36).

2. Willingham became the first Minnesota player to reach 30 homers since Michael Cuddyer hit 32 and Morneau belted 30 in 2009.

3. The Twins sent SS Brian Dozier to Triple-A Rochester after Tuesday's game. They will call up INF Pedro Florimon on Wednesday.