Detroit @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2018 ) Detroit 4, Minnesota 11
The Minnesota Twins have had their way with the Detroit Tigers of late, winning seven of the last nine meetings between the American League Central rivals. Minnesota looks to complete the season series with another victory when it hosts Detroit on Thursday for the rubber match of their three-game set.
The Twins cruised to an 11-4 triumph on Wednesday, registering 14 hits en route to improving to 11-7 versus the Tigers this year and 18-8 in their last 26 matchups. Johnny Field went deep twice for his first career multi-homer performance and Tyler Austin belted a two-run shot as eight of Minnesota's nine players in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit. Detroit squandered an early 1-0 lead but battled back to forge a 4-4 tie before surrendering two runs in the fourth inning and five in the following frame. Christian Stewart tripled and drove in a pair of runs as the Tigers were thwarted in their attempt to post back-to-back victories for the first time in more than two weeks.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (5-11, 4.40 ERA) vs. Twins LH Gabriel Moya (3-1, 4.72)
Liriano has struggled to get in the win column since capturing three of his four decisions in April but had won two of three starts before suffering a loss against Kansas City on Friday, when he yielded four runs - one earned - and six hits in six innings. The 34-year-old Dominican has kept the ball in the park in each of his four outings in September after serving up seven home runs over 21 1/3 frames in five turns last month. Liriano, who spent the first 6 1/2 years of his career with the Twins, is 3-3 with a 6.40 ERA in seven career starts against his former club - including two losses in as many outings this season.
Moya will be making his sixth start of the season and second in three games after issuing one walk in a scoreless inning against Detroit on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has made each of his last three turns as the "opener" versus the Tigers, allowing three hits over three scoreless frames. Moya also made three relief appearances against Detroit this year and permitted one hit over three innings without yielding a run.
WALK-OFFS
1. Wednesday's triumph gave Minnesota's Paul Molitor the 300th victory of his managerial career.
2. Tigers C James McCann has gone 3-for-7 with three RBIs over the first two contests of the series.
3. Twins SS Jorge Polanco has feasted on Detroit pitching in the set, going 4-for-9 with four RBIs over the first two games.
PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Twins 2