Detroit @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) Detroit 4, Minnesota 5

The Minnesota Twins have belted six homers while winning the first two games of the series and look to inflict further damage on Saturday, when they host the Detroit Tigers for the third contest of their four-game set. The Twins launched three blasts in the series-opening 15-8 victory and three more in Friday's 5-4 triumph.

Joe Mauer came off the bench to hit the decisive three-run shot on Friday, his first homer since July 13 and the second pinch-hit blast of his career. Eddie Rosario and Tyler Austin also went deep for Minnesota, which has scored 31 runs during its four-game winning streak. Detroit has allowed 32 runs during its four-game slide and dropped to 18-43 on the road, the second-worst mark in the majors. Victor Martinez went 3-for-3 with a walk on Friday and is 4-for-5 with two RBIs, two doubles and two walks in the series.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Ryan Carpenter (0-1, 6.39 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kohl Stewart (0-1, 6.23)

Carpenter was promoted from Triple-A Toledo on Friday and will make his fifth major-league appearance and fourth start - all of which have taken place this season. The 28-year-old has served up four homers in 12 2/3 innings for the Tigers while allowing opponents to bat .315. Carpenter's most-recent start for Detroit came on May 31, when he allowed one run and five hits over four frames in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels.

Stewart lost to the Tigers in his major-league debut on Sunday, when he gave up three runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old, who was the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft, stated after the outing that he would throw more off-speed pitches in his next turn. Stewart was just 3-7 with a 4.47 ERA in 21 appearances (19 starts) while splitting time between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester prior to his recall.

WALK-OFFS

1. Austin, who recently was acquired from the New York Yankees, is 4-for-16 with two homers, four RBIs and seven strikeouts in five games with the Twins.

2. Detroit placed LHP Blaine Hardy (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list and filled the roster spot by recalling Carpenter.

3. Minnesota 2B Logan Forsythe was hitless in four at-bats on Friday after going 22-for-49 in his first 14 games with the club.

PREDICTION: Twins 11, Tigers 6