Minnesota @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2016 ) Minnesota 2, Detroit 7

The Detroit Tigers are finally starting to hit the ball and pile up runs in bunches, leading to a three-game winning streak. The Tigers, who dropped 11 of 12 before the streak, will try to make it four straight and polish off a three-game sweep when they host the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

Detroit avoided a sweep in Baltimore on Sunday when J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera ripped back-to-back home runs and scored eight runs in the first inning on Monday before having to battle for the 10-8 win. The Tigers went with the bunch scoring strategy again on Tuesday, pushing across seven runs in the seventh inning to come from behind for a 7-2 triumph. The Twins own the worst record in the American League at 10-28 and have dropped 14 of their last 17 games. Minnesota has been particularly poor against American League Central opponents with a 4-16 mark – all four wins coming over the Cleveland Indians.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 4.87 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.71)

Nolasco allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts and was ripped for six home runs in that span. The veteran yielded four runs on four hits – two homers – and three walks over six innings at Cleveland in a no decision on Friday. Nolasco went 5 2/3 innings against Detroit at home on May 1 and was reached for five runs on eight hits without factoring in the decision.

Verlander could not get any support last time out and suffered the loss despite yielding one run in eight innings at Baltimore. The former AL MVP has been in top form in his last two starts with just the one run allowed and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings. Verlander missed the last series with Minnesota and is 15-8 with a 3.12 ERA in 30 career starts against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus will return on Wednesday after serving a one-game suspension.

2. Minnesota RHP Trevor May has allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings over his last three appearances.

3. Martinez has homered in three straight games and is 7-for-12 in that span.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Twins 3