Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2010 ) Minnesota 1, Detroit 10

With his team out of playoff contention, the only thing Miguel Cabrera has left to play for is a shot at the American League MVP trophy.

He bolstered his chances Friday night, and will look to do the same Saturday as he leads the Detroit Tigers into the resumption of their three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins. Detroit has been mathematically eliminated from post-season contention, while the Twins have locked up a playoff berth and have home-field advantage throughout the AL post-season in their sights.

Detroit fans can only wonder how bad things would have been without Cabrera manning first base this season. After being dogged by stories of alcohol-related transgressions during the off-season, The 27-year-old has responded with vigor, posting a .326 average with 35 home runs and 120 RBIs over 531 at-bats entering Saturday.

Cabrera's numbers will assuredly put him in the mix for the AL MVP award with Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors with a .361 batting average, and Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, the major-league leader in home runs with 52.

Cabrera was at his versatile best in Friday's series opener. He had three hits, including a two-run homer, and finished with three runs scored as the Tigers trounced the Twins 10-3.

He wasn't alone, as Detroit pounded out 13 hits against Twins starter Francisco Liriano and a quintet of Minnesota relievers. Jhonny Peralta and Casper Wells also went deep for the Tigers, who have won five of their last six games.

They'll look to continue their recent success against Carl Pavano (17-11), who can equal his career high for wins in a season with a victory Saturday. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a renaissance with the Twins after a forgettable stint with the New York Yankees that had many believing he was finished as a major-league pitcher.

Pavano stumbled in August but has bounced back in September, going 2-1 in three starts so far this month. He wasn't sharp in his last outing, allowing three homers and five runs overall in just five innings of work, but it was good enough as Minnesota beat the Chicago White Sox 8-5.

Pavano has had Detroit's number in his career, with a 5-2 lifetime mark to go with a 2.97 ERA in eight starts. He last faced the Tigers on July 11, limiting them to three runs over 7 2/3 innings in a 6-3 win.

He's matched up against Tigers veteran Jeremy Bonderman (8-9), who has three no-decisions over his past four starts. That includes his last outing, when he allowed three runs (one earned) over 5 2/3 innings but wasn't around for the decision as Detroit outslugged the White Sox 9-7.

Bonderman is 5-6 all-time against the Twins, with a 5.35 ERA in 99 1/3 innings spanning 18 appearances (16 starts). He has yet to face them this season.