Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins: Game 159 Preview, Lineup, TV/Radio Coverage

Detroit Tigers (88-70) vs Minnesota Twins (68-90) — 7:08 p.m. ET

Comerica Park– Detroit, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB Network

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 65 degrees, cloudy

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Series Notes

• When the Seattle Mariners lost to the Toronto Blue Jays last night, the Detroit Tigers  clinched a postseason appearance for the fourth time in a row, a franchise record.
• Their magic number to clinch their fourth straight AL Central title stands at 4.
• The Tigers have had a lot of success against the teams directly below them, but have struggled against the bottom two teams in the division. The Twinkies hold a tentative 8-7 season series advantage heading into the regular season’s final four games.
• The Twins have a terrible pitching staff, but can hit the ball around. This has led to each of these teams averaging more than six runs per game against each other this season.

When We Last Met

The Twins won two of three games in Minnesota last week. It has been a very long time since the Tigers hosted the Twins, with the host team winning two of three from June 13 to 15.

Pitching Matchup

Max Scherzer (17-5, 3.19) seemed to kick it in another gear sensing October baseball in his last outing, besting the Kansas City Royals with a seven hit, one run effort last Saturday. He even got quite animated during yesterday’s bench clearing “discussion” with the Chicago White Sox yesterday afternoon. Minnesota has roughed up Scherzer this year, allowing 10 earned runs over three starts against them, although the run support he received has helped him go 2-0 with one no-decision.

No that ERA to the right is not a misprint for Trevor May (3-5, 8.39). The right handed starter should present the Tigers with a good opening act in order to get the bats going early in the critical series. May was torched in his last outing, allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings. Detroit had success in a start against May, tallying five runs in an 8-6 Tigers’ win on Aug. 23.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

1. Ian Kinsler-2B
2. Torii Hunter-RF
3. Miguel Cabrera-1B
4. Victor Martinez-DH
5. J.D. Martinez-LF
6. Nick Castellanos-3B
7. Alex Avila-C
8. Eugenio Suarez-SS
9. Rajai Davis-CF

Injuries

Tigers

• Luke Putkonen – Out indefinitely
• Andy Dirks – Out indefinitely
• Joel Hanrahan – 60-day DL
• Jose Iglesias – Out for season
• Bruce Rondon – Out for season

Twins

• Joe Mauer – Questionable
• Trevor Plouffe – Out for season
• Glen Perkins – Out indefinitely
• Tommy Milone – Out indefinitely
• Mike Pelfrey – Out for season