Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2010 ) Minnesota 10, Detroit 11

Sunday represents a chance for Minnesota starter Brian Duensing to extend his personal winning streak to four games.

The Twins would be thrilled just to see him pitch into the fifth inning.

Duensing will look to give Minnesota's beleaguered bullpen a break as the Twins face the Detroit Tigers in the finale of their three-game series at Comerica Park. Detroit won the opening two games of the set and can even the season series at nine wins apiece with a victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Twins have already secured a post-season berth, but their pitching over the first two games of the series has looked far from playoff-caliber. Francisco Liriano left Friday's series opener after just three innings with an undisclosed illness, while Saturday starter Carl Pavano was pulled after getting hit around over his four-inning stint.

With Liriano and Pavano surrendering nine runs over their seven combined innings of work, the Twins' bullpen has been stretched thin. Minnesota used six pitchers in Friday's 10-1 loss and nine more in Saturday's 11-10, 13-inning defeat -- and with no more days off before season's end, the pressure is on Duensing to give the team a quality start in Sunday's matinee.

The left-hander's season resume would suggest he's a good candidate to do just that.

Duensing (10-2) has made just 11 starts for Minnesota this season after spending the first half of the season in the bullpen. Yet, he has emerged as Minnesota's most consistent starter since the All-Star Break, going 8-1 with a 2.48 ERA.

Even better news for Minnesota is that Duensing has lasted at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts. That includes a solid showing in his last outing, when he surrendered three runs over six innings on the way to a 9-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

The 27-year-old has made one start against Detroit this season, allowing three unearned runs over 6 2/3 frames but settling for a no-decision in a game the Twins won 4-3. He faced them again two days later in relief, surrendering a run over two innings as Detroit earned a 10-9 victory in 13 innings.

Detroit counters with sophomore right-hander Rick Porcello (9-11), who is wrapping up a difficult 2010 campaign on a high note.

Big things were expected from Porcello following a solid rookie season that saw him win 14 games as a fresh-faced 20-year-old. Instead, a 4-7 start to the year landed him in Triple-A for a month, and he lost three straight decisions upon his return.

The last month has seen Porcello turn the corner, putting together a four-game winning streak to leave him on the cusp of another season with double-digit victories. He fell short in his last outing, allowing five runs over 5 1/3 innings and earning a no-decision in a 7-5 win over Kansas City.

Porcello is just 1-3 lifetime against the Twins, but has a respectable 3.15 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. He has faced them just once this season, taking the loss after surrendering five runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 5-4 defeat back on May 5.