Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins Game 87: Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (44-42) at Minnesota Twins (47-40) — 4:10 PM ET

Target Field — Minneapolis, MN

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather:  80 degrees, mostly cloudy

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Game Preview

The Detroit Tigers will try continue their dominance over the AL Central and move closer to first place with the MLB All-Star break next week. As of Friday, Detroit is eight games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals and a 2.5 behind Minnesota for second.

When We Last Met

Tigers fans would rather not relive Friday’s game, but here is a quick summary. Detroit led by six with two innings to go. Heading into the ninth, Detroit led by five, but Bruce Rondon and Joakim Soria allowed a combined seven runs in 2/3 of an inning. Soria, who is the team’s closer, didn’t record an out, and Detroit lost, 8-6.

Detroit still leads the season series, 8-3, but this kind of loss is something that can be a turning point to the worst for a team. Hopefully, the Tigers bounce back immediately.

Pitching Matchup

In order to do that, the Tigers will need a strong outing from right-hander Alfredo Simon, who hasn’t pitched well in his last four starts. In those four outings, Simon has allowed 23 runs and 37 hits in 15 1/3 innings. Behind a strong offensive performance in Seattle, Simon was, however, able to win his last start.

Overall, Simon is 8-5 with a 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 97 innings this season.

The Twins will send right-hander Phil Hughes to the mound, and lately, he has been trending in the opposite direction as Simon. In his last four outings, Hughes has allowed just eight runs in 29 innings. He also has 16 strikeouts and only two walks in those four starts.

This season, Hughes is 7-6 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 67 strikeouts.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Yoenis Cespedes LF
3. Victor Martinez DH
4. J.D. Martinez RF
5. Marc Krauss 1B
   
6. Nick Castellanos 3B
7. James McCann C
8. Jose Iglesias SS
9. Rajai Davis CF

Injuries

• Miguel Cabrera — 15-day DL
• Kyle Lobstein — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season

Next: Detroit Tigers All-Time All-Stars