Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2009 ) Detroit 5, Minnesota 6

On paper, it's a marquee pitching matchup.

Judging by the way the pitchers have performed thus far this season, it's more like a half-marquee matchup.

While Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano has pitched like ace, Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who pitched like an ace last season, has struggled.

Liriano has resembled the dominating hurler who was so outstanding before hurting his left elbow and having Tommy John surgery in 2006, forcing him to miss all of the following season. He had plenty of rocky moments the last two years, but the Twins have won all three of his starts in 2010.

Liriano has struck out 17 and given up four hits in 21 innings. He has yet to allow a home run. Liriano has won his last two starts over the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. He pitched eight shutout innings against Cleveland on Wednesday in his best start of the season.

It's been a different story for Verlander, one of the best pitchers in baseball last season. He was 19-9 with a 3.45 ERA and pitched 240 innings, but getting deep into games has been his chief problem in 2010. Thanks to high pitch counts, Verlander has pitched exactly five innings in three of his four starts. He has already topped the 100-pitch twice and threw 125 pitches in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday, his only win to date.

The high pitch counts have caused two problems. First, it gets Verlander out of the game far earlier than manager Jim Leyland would like. It also causes extra stress for the Tigers' bullpen, which was rarely overworked in games Verlander started last season.

This is the first time the teams have faced each other since their memorable one-game playoff for the AL Central title last season. The Twins won, 6-5, in what was technically the final regular-season game at the Metrodome.

The teams are expected to contend for the division title again this season. The Twins have won all six series they've played to date. While the Tigers haven't played poorly, they have yet to put together a hot streak.

The Twins took two of three against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. Minnesota won the first two games, but its bid for a sweep ended in a 4-3 loss on Sunday.

The Tigers split four games against the Texas Rangers, winning Monday night in dramatic fashion, 8-6, when Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge hit back-to-back homers in the ninth off Netfali Feliz.