Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2011 ) Minnesota 9, Detroit 6

THE STORY: The Minnesota Twins won’t be repeating as AL Central champion this year, but they could make things tougher for division-leading Detroit to take their place. The Twins won the opener of the three-game series at Comerica Park on Monday and sliced Detroit’s lead to two games over idle Cleveland. The outcome was rare, as Detroit entered the series with an 8-1 record against Minnesota this year and had beaten the Twins in 12 of the previous 13 meetings.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSNO, FSD

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Nick Blackburn (7-9, 4.36 ERA) vs. Tigers Justin Verlander (17-5, 2.35 ERA).

Blackburn has suffered through a long drought. His last victory was on July 8 at Chicago and he's lost his last three decisions. He allowed just one run in his most recent start, when he pitched 6 2/3 innings and received no decision against the Red Sox. Blackburn has made 10 career starts against the Tigers, going 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA. He was beaten 6-5 by Detroit on May 30, his only appearance against the Tigers in 2011, and allowed five runs in six innings.

Verlander may be the best pitcher in the major leagues these days. The big righthander has won five consecutive starts and has gone 5-1 with a 3.07 ERA since the All-Star break. Verlander leads the majors in victories and strikeouts (196) and is second in the AL in ERA. He's pitched no fewer than six innings in each of his starts and has gone less than seven innings only once since June 1. Verlander is 8-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 19 career starts vs. the Twins. He beat Minnesota 6-2 on July 21, allowing only one run in eight innings.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (64-57): Delmon Young wasted no time contributing after being acquired from the Twins on Monday. He homered in his first at-bat and went 2-for-4 in his Detroit debut. Young learned of his trade in the morning and was invited by Justin Morneau to ride the bus with his ex-teammates to Comerica Park. Victor Martinez hit his first homer since June 10, but he continued his hot streak and is now 7-for-16 over the last four games. Situational reliever Phil Coke has made seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing three hits and striking out nine in that 5 1/3-inning stretch.

ABOUT THE TWINS (53-67): Jim Thome became the eighth player to reach 600 career home runs when he hit a pair on Monday. He had gone seven games between home runs, and had not hit multiple homers in a game since May 23. Thome has 65 career homers against the Tigers, more than any other club. OF Ben Revere had two hits Monday and lifted his career average against the Tigers over .200. He’s now 7-for-31 (.225) against Detroit.

FINAL PITCH: Trevor Plouffe was recalled from Triple-A Rochester after Alexi Casilla injured his hamstring. He will be given every chance to start over the last seven weeks. Plouffe was batting .313 with 15 homers for Rochester. He was hitting .202 in 38 games for the Twins.