Tigers at Twins (Game 2)
The Minnesota Twins seemingly 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 dispatching the Tigers in the opener of their four-game series, and they'll attempt to remain undefeated against their AL Central rivals this season when they host the nightcap of 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 setback against 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: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Gregory Soto (NR) vs. Twins RH Kohl Stewart (0-1, 7.50 ERA)
Soto is set to make his major-league debut in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader after showing well in three starts at Double-A Erie, going 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA. The 24-year-old Dominican got off to a late start this season after serving a 20-game suspension for "conduct detrimental or prejudicial to baseball." Soto, who is allowing opponents to bat .222 against him through four turns, owns a 31-23 record and 3.36 ERA in 110 minor-league appearances (93 starts).
Stewart is expected to return to the majors for the first time since he took the loss in his hometown of Houston on April 24 after surrendering five runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings. The 2013 first-round draft pick has spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A Rochester, compiling a 2-2 record and 4.50 ERA in five starts. Since he was optioned to the Red Wings on April 25, Stewart has yielded one run in each of his two turns spanning eight 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 his 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.