Tigers at Twins
After getting swept by Cleveland this week, the Detroit Tigers found themselves six games behind the first-place Indians. The prohibitive favorites to win the American League Central scored only six runs in the three-game series as their vaunted offense continued to struggle. A trip to Minnesota to face the Twins, though, seems to have provided a cure. The Tigers exploded for 16 hits in their 10-6 on Friday and will try to keep the momentum going Saturday.
Detroit’s Max Scherzer struck out a career-high 15 over seven innings in a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday. He will oppose Minnesota’s Carl Pavano, who was 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA in three starts against Detroit in 2011. Pavano is battling a shoulder strain and will be working with two extra days’ rest.
The Twins share the worst record in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs at 15-30, and have lost three straight after winning five of their previous six.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (3-3, 5.73 ERA) vs. Twins RH Carl Pavano (2-3, 4.91 ERA)
Scherzer has struck out nine or more in four of nine starts and has 63 in 48 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs in seven innings against Pittsburgh and is 2-0 with two no-decisions in his last four outings. Scherzer is 1-1 with a whopping 6.45 ERA in six career starts against the Twins. Minnesota’s roster is hitting .272 against him, with Justin Morneau 3-for-5 with two home runs and Joe Mauer 4-for-11 with a homer.
Pavano has two straight no-decisions, including Minnesota’s 5-4 victory at Milwaukee on Saturday when he allowed two runs in six innings. Pavano is 5-4 in 12 career starts against Detroit with the Tigers’ roster batting .346 against him. Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila have each homered twice against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Tigers were 9-for-15 with runners in scoring position Friday after going 3-for-28 in such situations during the Cleveland series.
2. Detroit’s Prince Fielder, Brennan Boesch and Delmon Young had three hits apiece Friday.
3. Minnesota is 6-15 at home – only Kansas City (5-17) has fewer wins.