Tigers at Twins (Game 1)
The Minnesota Twins are clicking on all cylinders at the moment, making this weekend a bad time for the Detroit Tigers and their American League-worst offense to pay a visit. The Twins had little problem roughing up the Tigers in the opener of their four-game series, and they'll attempt to remain undefeated against their ALCentral rivals this season when they host a split doubleheader on Saturday.
Minnesota capped a 4-2 road trip by outscoring Toronto 20-1 during a three-game sweep and returned home Friday to post its third shutout in four contests as Jake Odorizzi and two relievers combined on a three-hitter in a 6-0 victory. Mitch Garver continued his torrid stretch at the plate with a home run and three walks while AL batting co-leader Jorge Polanco (.344) drove in three runs with a double and a bases-loaded walk. The Tigers were blanked for a second straight day following Thursday's 13-0 rout at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels and already have been shut out an AL-high five times this season after pacing the majors with 18 in 2018. Detroit has dropped five straight and nine of its last 10 meetings with Minnesota.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 2.31 ERA) vs. Twins RH Michael Pineda (2-3, 6.09)
Turnbull was dominant for a fourth straight outing Sunday against Kansas City, although he settled for a no-decision despite yielding one run and registering seven strikeouts in as many frames. The former second-round draft pick, who is 2-0 and has permitted two runs and 14 hits over his last 24 innings, leads all AL rookies in ERA. Polanco (2-for-5) has fared well versus Turnbull, who went 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in his first two career starts against the Twins last season.
Pineda struck out a season-high eight batters but dropped his third straight decision Sunday in New York after allowing four runs - three earned - on six hits and three walks against the Yankees over five innings. The 30-year-old has failed to record a quality start in any of his last four outings, posting an 8.53 ERA over that span. Miguel Cabrera is 6-for-13 with two doubles against Pineda, who notched his most recent win on April 13 as he limited the Tigers to three runs in six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins are 13-3 when hitting at least two homers in a game this season.
2. Detroit C-1B John Hicks did not play Friday but is batting .429 during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Garver is 8-for-14 with three home runs, six RBIs, four walks and five runs scored over his last five contests.