Minnesota @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 29, 2013 ) Minnesota 3, Detroit 4
Justin Verlander left his last start due a problem with his right hand, but he’s had very few issues recently against the Minnesota Twins. Verlander will attempt to guide the Tigers to their season-high fifth straight win on Tuesday when the teams continue a three-game set in Detroit. The Tigers’ ace left Thursday’s start with a crack in the skin near his fingernail, but is expected to be fine against the Twins – a team he has gone 8-0 against with a 1.71 ERA over his last nine starts.
Minnesota has enjoyed its own solid pitching recently. Twins starters are 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in their past nine games, allowing four homers while striking out 32. Minnesota, which has yielded more than four runs only once in that span, can only hope Vance Worley manages to bounce back from a rough start to the season. The right-hander allowed 14 earned runs through three starts, but has given up a total of three runs in his last two turns.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Fox Sports Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Vance Worley (0-3, 6.38 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (2-2, 1.95)
Worley needed 102 pitches and labored through five innings in Thursday’s 2-1 setback against Texas, yielding two runs and six hits against the Rangers. The 25-year-old right-hander also opposed Verlander on Opening Day, giving up three runs and eight hits in his first career start against the Tigers. Worley has been substantially better in two road outings (0-0, 3.75) than three home starts (0-3, 9.00), but right-handed hitters are 22-for-52 against him this season.
Although Detroit has been shut out in two of his turns and the bullpen blew his last shot at a victory, Verlander has been exceptional in April. The 2011 American League MVP has allowed one earned or less in three of his five outings. Verlander allowed two runs – one earned – and eight hits over seven innings in Thursday’s 8-3 loss against the Kansas City Royals, but settled for a no-decision. In 24 career starts, he is 13-7 with a 3.11 ERA against Minnesota.
WALK-OFFS
1. Verlander has struck out more batters (33) than he has allowed hits (31).
2. Twins C Joe Mauer is hitless in his last five games (0-for-19), the longest such streak of his career.
3. Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera is one RBI shy of matching Tony Clark's RBI total from April 1997 (27) – the most by a Tiger in the season's opening month since at least 1921.
PREDICTION: Tigers 7, Twins 2