Twins at Tigers
The Minnesota Twins surged to the top of the American League Central and are in a race for the best record in the league thanks to their homer-happy offense but giving up the long ball can get the pitching staff into some trouble. The Twins will try to make sure they're the only team leaving the yard when they visit the Detroit Tigers in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday.
Minnesota entered play Saturday with a major league-best 120 home runs but a pair of home runs for the other side proved to be the difference in Saturday's 9-3 setback. Detroit totaled four runs during a three-game slide before JaCoby Jones belted two home runs, totaling five RBIs, and Christin Stewart added a solo shot Saturday. The Twins got a solo homer from Nelson Cruz - his 10th - in the eighth inning to reach at least three runs for the 30th time in the last 31 games. The Tigers, who improved to 11-20 at home with Saturday's triumph, will try to earn their first home series win since taking two of three from Kansas City May 3-5 when they send left-hander Ryan Carpenter up against surging Minnesota righty Jake Odorizzi on Sunday.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (8-2, 1.96 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Ryan Carpenter (1-2, 6.23)
Odorizzi is undefeated in his last nine starts and owns a 1.02 ERA in that span, including three straight scoreless outings. The 29-year-old breezed through six scoreless frames at Tampa Bay last Sunday, scattering three hits and striking out nine to bring his season total to 70 Ks in 64 1/3 innings. Odorizzi had no trouble with the Detroit lineup at home May 10, when he yielded one hit and struck out five without issuing a walk in seven scoreless frames.
Carpenter posted his first quality start of the season Tuesday, when he held Tampa Bay to two runs on seven hits in seven innings to earn his first win. The Gonzaga product surrendered two or fewer earned runs in each of his last three outings but was limited to five innings at New York on May 25 and again at Baltimore on May 29. Carpenter made one start at Minnesota during his 2018 rookie campaign surrendered three solo home runs among eight hits in 5 1/3 innings but escaped with a win.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins optioned C/INF Willians Astudillo to Triple-A Rochester prior to Saturday's contest.
2. Tigers leadoff hitter and SS Niko Goodrum is 3-for-17 with nine strikeouts in the last four games.
3. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Saturday - the fifth time in 16 games since returning to the majors that he recorded at least three Ks.