Twins at Tigers
The Detroit Tigers still had a reason to believe they could keep pace with the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central when they split a four-game series against them in the middle of May, but they are well out of the division race less than a month later. The Tigers attempt to turn around their sinking fortunes Saturday, when they host the Twins for the middle contest of their three-game series.
Detroit was only 6 1/2 games behind Minnesota after battling the division leader to a draw from May 10-12, but a winless nine-game homestand set the wheels in motion for a slide during which the club has lost 17 of 22. They fell to 1-5 in June following Friday's 6-3 setback to drop 18 games behind the Twins in the Central and have lost 12 of their last 13 at home. Minnesota leads the majors in a number of offensive categories - including team batting average (.272), home runs (120) and runs scored (367) - and did nothing to hurt itself in those areas in the series opener. Marwin Gonzalez paced the Twins' 14-hit attack with two doubles and two singles while Mitch Garver went 3-for-5 and connected for one of the team's three homers.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (6-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Nick Ramirez (1-0, 2.37)
Gibson needed 88 pitches to get through five innings, but he allowed only one unearned run on six hits and a walk during last Saturday's win at Tampa Bay. The native of Indiana has served up seven of his nine homers allowed this season on the road but is averaging more than a strikeout per inning for the first time in his career, posting a 63:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 62 1/3 frames. Gibson went 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three turns versus the Tigers last season but is 8-8 with a 5.13 mark in 19 career outings against them.
Detroit is unlikely to name a starter prior to Saturday morning but is expected to opt for an "opener" before turning over the next few innings to Ramirez. The Cal State Fullerton product gave up a hit and two walks in one scoreless inning of relief against Tampa Bay on Wednesday but struck out seven over five perfect frames in his previous two appearances out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old made his major-league debut at Minnesota on May 11, allowing one run (homer) in four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins SS Jorge Polanco singled twice on Friday and has reached base safely in 22 straight contests.
2. Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera has gone 6-for-13 with two three-hit efforts during the team's six-game homestand.
3. After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his return from the injured list on Tuesday, Minnesota DH Nelson Cruz has hit a solo homer in each of his last two games.