Detroit @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2011 ) Minnesota 6, Detroit 5
THE STORY: Before the season started, a late-August showdown between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers looked like it would be a battle for the top of the division. Instead, the Tigers will just be looking to pad their rapidly increasing advantage over the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox while the Twins play out the string. Detroit has won six of its last seven to pull to a commanding lead of 6 1/2 games in the American League Central. Minnesota has watched whatever slim postseason chance it had disappear during a terrible August and a current five-game losing streak. The Twins will be looking to throw a bend into the Tigers’ clear path to the playoffs when the teams open a three-game set at Target Field on Friday night.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSNO (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (0-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Rick Porcello (11-8, 5.17 ERA).
Porcello has gotten hammered in his last three outings, allowing 19 runs - 17 earned - in 13 1/3 total innings. The 22-year-old had posted six straight quality starts prior to his slump. Minnesota knocked Porcello around for six runs - four earned - in six innings on Aug. 15.
Diamond will be recalled to take the place of Anthony Swarzak, who was forced into relief duty in Thursday’s loss. Diamond made his first major league start on July 18 and lost to Cleveland, allowing three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He was sent back to the minors immediately after that outing. The 25-year-old is just 4-14 with a 5.56 ERA at Triple-A Rochester this season.
ABOUT THE TWINS (55-75): Minnesota has been outscored 27-4 in its last five games and is averaging 1.3 runs during its last 10 setbacks. The pitching staff might have taken a big hit on Thursday as well, as staff ace Francisco Liriano was removed after the second inning due to a left shoulder strain. The former All-Star will be re-evaluated on Friday. Minnesota is dealing with a number of injuries at the moment, with starters Nick Blackburn (forearm) and Scott Baker (elbow) already on the disabled list. The offense is shorthanded also, with Joe Mauer having sat out two straight games due to a stiff neck and Tsuyoshi Nishioka (back spasms) missing his sixth consecutive contest on Thursday.
ABOUT THE TIGERS (71-59): Detroit has had little competition in the division lately, with both the White Sox and Indians just struggling to stay above .500. The Tigers are coming off a series in Tampa Bay in which they took two of three from the Rays, capped off with a 2-0 victory in Thursday’s finale. Doug Fister turned in a seven-inning gem to improve to 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA since coming over from the Seattle Mariners prior to the trade deadline. Alex Avila got the day off on Thursday but has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball during August, batting .418 with a .530 on-base percentage and six homers in 20 games. Avila has hit safely in nine straight and has an extra-base hit in each of the last six contests.
FINAL PITCH: Twins slugger Jim Thome accepted a trade to return to the Cleveland Indians. He played with the Tribe from 1991-2002. Fellow slugger Jason Kubel's claim was awarded to the Chicago White Sox. Minnesota has until noon on Friday to work out a deal with the White Sox or pull Kubel back.