Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) Minnesota 0, Detroit 0

The Detroit Tigers are running out of time to catch the Chicago White Sox, regardless of how great Miguel Cabrera has been of late. One thing working in their favor this weekend is the schedule, which has the American League-worst Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers are sitting behind the White Sox with 13 games left. The first game of the series was postponed on Friday, with a doubleheader scheduled for Sunday.

Cabrera has been a one-man wrecking crew for Detroit with hits in 10 straight games and 14 RBIs in the last nine. But pitching has become a concern with Max Scherzer going down with shoulder fatigue. Drew Smyly figured to take Scherzer’s spot in the rotation but was forced into relief duty on Thursday, when the Tigers squandered a chance to gain ground on Chicago with a 12-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Scherzer is tentatively scheduled for one of the games Sunday, with Smyly taking the other and struggling Rick Porcello pushed back. Minnesota is coming off a series win over Cleveland that pulled the teams even for the worst record in the AL at 62-88. Joe Mauer still has hopes of catching Cabrera for the AL batting title and is one of the few bright spots left this season.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Samuel Deduno (6-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (9-9, 3.65)

Deduno struggled with his command last time out, issuing five walks in four innings while surrendering four runs on three hits to absorb the loss. The 29-year-old right-hander has issued at least three walks and has allowed a home run in each of his last three starts. Deduno walked five against Detroit on Aug. 13 but limited the damage to three runs in seven innings to pick up a win.

Fister had a string of three straight strong starts come to an end at Chicago on Monday, when he was knocked around for five runs (four earned) and eight hits in four innings to suffer the loss. The right-hander went eight innings to earn a win at Minnesota on Aug. 14, surrendering four unearned runs on five hits. Fister was beaten by the Twins twice earlier in the season and is just 2-6 with a 3.68 ERA in eight career starts against the division rivals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cabrera is leading the AL in batting (.333) and RBIs (130) while ranking second in home runs (41). He is bidding to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1967.

2. Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe has three homers in his last seven games. Plouffe had a stretch of 10 home runs in 14 games earlier this season.

3. Detroit C Alex Avila (concussion) has been cleared to play. He has been out since Sunday after colliding with Prince Fielder.