Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins Game 153 Preview, TV, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (71-81) vs. Minnesota Twins (78-74) — 7:08 PM ET

Comerica Park – Detroit, MI

TV: FSD and MLB Network

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather:  72 degrees, partly cloudy

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When We Last Met

Before last week, it had been a long time since the Detroit Tigers faced the Minnesota Twins, and actually, some could point to the two teams’ last meeting as a turning point for the Tigers season.

Detroit took the first game of that series, but on July 10, the Tigers blew six-run lead to lose, 8-6, in the bottom of the ninth. The Twins also took the next two games, and the Tigers limped into the All-Star break with an even 44-44 record.

The Tigers took two of three from the Twins last week, including a 11th inning victory to win the series, but it is too little, too late for Detroit. All they can do now is spoil the Twins season by beating them a couple times this weekend which would help keep Minnesota out of the playoffs.

Pitching Matchup 

The Detroit Tigers are sending 24-year-old Matt Boyd back to the mound. He has experienced a rough stretch of starts since joining the Tigers at the deadline. Boyd is 1-3 with a 6.21 ERA and 1.476 WHIP in eight starts in Detroit.

Luckily, he has been a lot better at Comerica Park. In four starts in Detroit, Boyd is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 0.958 WHIP. At Comerica Park, his K/BB is 3.20, which is over nearly 2.00 higher than it is on the road, and opponents are hitting just .214 against him.

The Twins will have veteran right-hander Mike Pelfrey on the hill Friday. He is 6-10 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 158 innings this season. Pelfrey started the season well, posting a 2.77 ERA through May, but he had a 5.35 ERA in June.

This season against Detroit, Pelfrey is 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 1/3 innings.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

1. Anthony Gose CF
2. Ian Kinsler 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Victor Martinez DH
5. J.D. Martinez RF
6. Nick Castellanos 3B
7. James McCann C
8. Andrew Romine SS
9. Rajai Davis LF

Injuries

• Jose Iglesias — Day-to-Day
• Anibal Sanchez — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan — Out for the Season

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