Detroit @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2013 ) Detroit 4, Minnesota 2

Reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera will be looking to get on track when the Detroit Tigers visit the Minnesota Twins for the second of a three-game series on Wednesday. Cabrera did knock in a run with a first-inning groundout, but was held without a hit in five at-bats and struck out twice in the season opener Monday. Prince Fielder picked up the slack with a pair of hits and an RBI in the 4-2 victory - Detroit’s 16th in its last 20 games at Target Field.

Joe Mauer looked as dangerous as ever with a double and a single. However, Minnesota will have to be more productive in big spots to be competitive. The Twins left 12 on base and struck out 12 times. Promising center fielder Aaron Hicks gets to start over after striking out three times against Justin Verlander in his major league debut.

TV: 4:10 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (2012: 9-13, 3.86 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kevin Correia (12-11, 4.21)

Sanchez was 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA over 74 2/3 innings after being acquired from the Miami Marlins last season. The 29-year-old pitched well in the postseason, allowing four runs in 20 1/3 innings. Sanchez gave up 12 hits and five runs in his first outing against Minnesota last year and limited the Twins to one run over 6 1/3 innings, without getting a decision, in the other. Mauer is 4-for-5 against Sanchez.

Correia signed a two-year deal as a free agent in the offseason and will be depended on to provide experience and innings in the middle of the rotation. His spring was not impressive, finishing with a 5.40 ERA over 25 innings, but he won 46 games the last four seasons and made an All-Star Game with Pittsburgh in 2011. Correia is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 2/3 innings lifetime against the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. RF Torii Hunter had a pair of hits in his debut with the Tigers and is 12 short of 2,000 in his career.

2. Twins LF Josh Willingham is 2-for-9 with six walks against Sanchez.

3. Fielder has the third-most home runs in the major leagues since the start of the 2006 season with 258 and Cabrera is fifth (243).

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Twins 2.