Tigers at Twins
The Minnesota Twins boast the best record in the majors, and they looked every bit like the top team in baseball given how thoroughly they dominated their last opponent. The Twins set their sights on a fourth straight victory Friday when they host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a four-game set.
Minnesota did not commit an error, outhit Toronto 38-11 and outscored the Blue Jays 20-1 while bulldozing its way to a three-game road sweep, winning for the 10th time in 13 tries and improving to a major-league best 23-12. The Twins' 64 homers and .495 slugging percentage are both the highest marks in team history through 35 games, while their .261 team batting average ranks second in the majors. The Tigers hit the road for four games this weekend after completing a wild 3-3 homestand in which the Tigers - the American League's lowest-scoring offense - recorded 10 runs once and gave up at least 13 runs twice. One of the latter outings came Thursday as Detroit gave up at least one run in all but two innings en route to a 13-0 setback in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Tyson Ross (1-4, 5.34 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (4-2, 2.78)
Ross had his regularly scheduled start pushed back from Thursday due to a sore back, which followed a brief stay on the paternity leave list. The 32-year-old has dropped three straight decisions and been hit hard over his last two, giving up a total of nine runs on 14 hits and five walks in 6 1/3 frames. Jonathan Schoop (2-for-4, three walks) and Eddie Rosario (2-for-3) are among several Twins who have done well in limited at-bats versus Ross, who is 0-4 with a 5.30 ERA in six games (four starts) against Minnesota.
Odorizzi is the reigning AL Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 and working consecutive scoreless outings against Houston and the New York Yankees over his last two starts. The former first-round pick allowed four hits and fanned seven in as many frames versus the Astros on April 29 before giving up two hits and striking out eight in New York on Saturday. Nicholas Castellanos is 3-for-17 with five walks against Odorizzi, who is 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA in eight starts versus Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins have belted at least four homers in a game five times this season, matching the number of times they accomplished the feat all of last season.
2. This series marks the only time during a 20-game stretch the Tigers will play away from home.
3. Minnesota SS Jorge Polanco, who shares the AL lead with a .344 batting average, has recorded two five-hit games already this season after entering 2019 without one.